Dr Sebonta Francinah Desbo Mohono has been appointed the new North West Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education, taking over the portfolio from Viola Motsumi during a cabinet reshuffle and ahead of examinations, the provincial government said.
Experienced educator and labour organiser steps into leadership
Mohono, who was sworn in on Friday, previously served as Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature. The North West Department of Education described her background as spanning teaching, organised labour, public administration and political leadership — experience the province says will help the department respond to the needs of communities, learners and schools.
The provincial statement noted Premier Lazarus Mokgosi’s confidence in Mohono’s appointment, and highlighted her past roles within education and the trade union movement. According to the department, Mokgosi stressed that Mohono "is no stranger to the education sector, having served as a teacher and as a shop steward within the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU)."
"Her experience has afforded her a deep understanding of the various dynamics within the education environment, including teaching, management, organised labour, and politics," the department said.
Mohono accepted the portfolio with a call for collective cooperation. The department reported that she urged the education community — including parents, learners, educators, principals, labour unions and education officials — to support her as she assumes responsibility for the province’s schooling system.
Transition, continuity and the task ahead
The department said Mohono intends to build on programmes and initiatives already under way, and that Premier Mokgosi acknowledged the contribution of outgoing MEC Viola Motsumi. The appointment comes at a sensitive moment: provincial leadership changes can affect programme delivery, administrative continuity and relations with organised labour, particularly where examinations and end-of-year processes are under way.
The department framed the change as a managed transition focused on stability and progress. It said Mohono's combination of classroom experience and union work gives her insight into the day-to-day realities faced by learners and educators — an asset as the province works to sustain service delivery.
- Role change: Mohono moves from Speaker of the Provincial Legislature to MEC for Education.
- Background: Teacher, SADTU shop steward, public administrator and political leader, according to the department.
- Call for cooperation: Mohono urged stakeholders to work together to advance the province’s education agenda.
While the department emphasised continuity, the new MEC will quickly face operational and political tasks typical of provincial education portfolios, including managing examinations, supporting schools and maintaining working relations with unions and school leadership. The department said Mohono did not take the responsibility lightly and that the success of the education programme would depend on cooperation across the sector.
| Previous role | New role |
|---|---|
| Speaker, North West Provincial Legislature | MEC for Education, North West |
The department’s announcement described the appointment as a significant transition for the province’s education fraternity and reiterated that Mohono brings a perspective formed by both classroom practice and labour representation.
As the new MEC settles into the portfolio, education stakeholders will be watching how she balances immediate operational priorities with longer-term goals to improve learner outcomes and strengthen school management across the North West.
