Northern Cape Premier and ANC provincial chairperson Zamani Saul has denied allegations of political interference in his administration following the shock resignation of Roads and Public Works MEC Fufe Makatong.

Saul moved swiftly to reshuffle his Cabinet after Makatong’s resignation, fuelling speculation about tensions within the provincial government and the ANC.

However, during a media briefing on Friday, Saul dismissed claims that political interference played a role in the latest changes, describing the allegations as an unfortunate misinterpretation of his constitutional right to “intervention” as premier.

“I have got a full constitutional right to intervene where things don’t go according to plan. My intervention is not interference. I think it was an unfortunate use of the word because if I don’t have the right to intervene, I don’t see why this office should exist,” said Saul.

He challenged those alleging political interference to provide evidence, saying: “Ask those individuals alleging interference to tell you precisely what that entails and you will get a sense that it was intervention, which is my responsibility and what I am getting paid for.”

Saul had previously described Makatong’s resignation as a “political mishap” that threatened to derail the organisation’s work.

Accepting Makatong’s resignation on Friday, Saul said it had created a vacancy that needed to be filled, prompting changes to the provincial Cabinet.

In the reshuffle, former Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) MEC Bentley Vass was moved to the Roads and Public Works portfolio.

Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development and Land Reform MEC Lebogang Motlhaping was shifted to COGHSTA, while Northern Cape Legislature Speaker Newrene Klaaste joined the provincial executive as the new MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development and Land Reform.

Mirriam Kibi was appointed MEC for Children, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.