KZN names its new executive committee
IT’S a mixed bag of veterans, youths, ministers, MECS, tripartite alliance partners, councillors and the questionables – and it signals a change in the political pecking order.
Meet the newly elected Kwazulu-natal provincial executive committee, a dream team which observers believe best reflects what President Jacob Zuma’s strike force in Mangaung will be.
Of importance to Zuma is the retention of State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele in the provincial executive committee (PEC). Cwele is a trusted Zuma strategist and the man who controls the state intelligence levers.
Kwazulu-natal is the ANC’S biggest province, boasting 253 000 members.
While changes were expected in the re-organisation of the PEC, the party appears to have also failed itself when it comes to minorities. Through its own admission, the ANC noted “with concern” the decline among minority groups in its structures. It adopted a resolution aiming to regain support in the Indian, coloured and white communities.
Finance MEC Ina Cronje and Human Settlements and Public Works MEC Ravi Pillay are the only non-african member of the PEC elected after last week’s provincial conference.
Pillay, a lawyer and the former Ugu Speaker, and Cronje were retained in a PEC that saw umgungundlovu district municipality mayor Yusuf Bhamjee and ethekwini exco member Fawzia Peer vacating the powerful body.
Also fired from the PEC were uthukela mayor Dudu Mazibuko, Makhosi Khoza, who resigned from the legislature earlier this year, Weziwe Thusi, the MEC for social development, MPL and head of the ANC health and education committee Nhlakanipho Ntombela, Sizani Dlamini and Meshack Radebe, the MEC for agriculture, environmental affairs and rural development.
Another omission was Celiwe Madlopha, the newly elected provincial ANC Women’s League chair who ousted Lungi Gcabashe.
However, Gcabashe and her estranged husband and MPL, businessman and former ANC provincial secretary Sipho Gcabashe, also retained their positions on the PEC.
Sipho Gcabashe is a codirector of Dezzo, a company he runs with former IFP strongman Senzo Mfayela and which won a controversial R2 billion housing project contract in Vulindlela outside Pietermaritzburg.
Top ANC official Senzo Mkhize retained his position while, surprisingly, former ANC treasurer and MEC for economic development and tourism Mike Mabuyakhulu lost a PEC position for the second time. He also does not serve on any ANC structures.
The new 20-strong PEC sports two national ministers: Cwele and Mildred Oliphant (Labour). There are four MECS: Senzo Mchunu (education), Cronje (Finance), Ntombikayise Sibhidla (arts, culture, sport and recreation) and Pillay.
The PEC also has five MPLS in former agriculture MEC Lydia Johnson, youth league chairman and Moses Mabhida regional deputy chairman Mthandeni Dlungwane, Bheki Ntuli, Sipho Gcabashe and former KZN youth league chairman Mxolisi Kaunda.
There are also five councillors in the PEC: Amajuba district mayor and Emalahleni regional deputy chairman Jabu Khumalo, Zululand district deputy mayor Ester Qwabe, ethekwini deputy mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala, umkhanyakude district council speaker and Far North regional deputy chairman Hlengiwe Mavimbela and ethekwini Exco member Nigel Gumede.
However, the biggest surprise is the return to mainstream politics of former umgungundlovu district mayor Bongi Sithole, the exwife of former MPL Inkosi Zibuse Mlaba. In 2008 she was fired as mayor following a string of allegations against her – only to be employed by Mabuyakhulu in the local government department.
Delegates to the conference unanimously decided to retain the same leadership led by premier and chairman Zweli Mkhize, including his deputy Willies Mchunu, secretary Sihle Zikalala, Zikalala’s deputy Nomusa Dube, and treasurer Peggy Nkonyeni, thus forgoing voting.