A recent reshuffle in the DA-led Western Cape government had nothing to do with quotas of Afrikaner representatives, former Health MEC Theuns Botha said on Saturday.

“The media speculation of any sinister reason for Minister [NomaFrench] Mbombo and I swopping portfolios is unfounded and untrue,” said Botha in a statement.

“It has got nothing to do with ‘Afrikaners, Afrikaanses or former NAT [National Party] / DP [Democratic Party] composition’ of the DA.”

On Dec 31, the Democratic Alliance announced that Botha and Mbombo, who was the MEC and Culture Affairs at the time, would swop positions from January 1.

However, on Saturday, Botha said that there were medical reasons behind his shift.

“The fact is that I have been troubled with personal health issues recently,” said Botha.

He would be taking sick leave for at least two months from February.

Therefore, said Botha, he had accepted Premier Helen Zille’s offer for him to swop to the culture and sports portfolio as this would be “less demanding” under the circumstances. SAPA