Month of notable events for premier

Mchunu to retire in May, celebrate birthday, wedding anniversary

MAY will feature four major events for Premier Willies Mchunu; his retirement from public service, general elections, his 71st birthday and his first wedding anniversary. Of these, the most notable will be his retirement after 25 years in government. The premier seemed to be in poor health last week, when he appeared to collapse while delivering the State of the Province address. On May 8, the first day of voting in the general election, Mchunu’s term as premier will officially end. Three days later he will celebrate his 71st birthday and he and his wife Zodwa their first wedding anniversary. Speaking to Sunday Tribune last week, he said he would continue to play a role in the provincial structures of the ANC and the SACP. His colleagues in the ANC and members of the opposition have praised him for the work he has done in his political career. The man tipped to replace him as premier, MEC for Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala, thanked Mchunu for passing on his wisdom to young leaders in the ANC. “He is a very thorough person. He is someone who does not entertain factions. He always preaches unity in the structures of the ANC,” said Zikalala, who added that he and other senior party leaders had benefited from the guidance of Mchunu. “It is also encouraging that he is still going to play a role in the structures of the movement. We thank him for that. We need his wisdom to guide us in the right direction. Zikalala was called on to complete the premier’s address when Mchunu admitted to feeling ill at the podium. Previously, Zikalala, the chairperson of the ANC in Kwazulu-natal, often stood in for Mchunu when he was ill. The IFP’S national chairperson, Blessed Gwala, said the provincial government would not be the same without Mchunu. “He has always been consistent in his job and he did not undermine anyone. He respected his job very much,” said Gwala. Gwala commended Mchunu for the part he played in the peace committee that was formed to broker peace between the ANC and the IFP. “Even when he was the deputy speaker of the legislature in 1994, he showed respect to Inkosi Bonga Mdletshe, who was an IFP deployee. “So, he was an exemplary leader who has played an instrumental role in politics at a provincial level.” Vikizitha Mlotshwa, the provincial chairperson of the National Freedom Party, said Mchunu was among “the few ANC politicians who put the people first. He is a selfless leader who has shown in his illustrious political career that he was serving the interest of the people.” In 1994, Mchunu was appointed as deputy Speaker of the provincial legislature, and 10 years later became Speaker. He also served as the Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC. He has been in various political positions, both in the ANC and the SACP. He became premier in 2016. “I would like to thank the ANC for giving me the opportunity to serve in government over the years. I am fully aware that no one is entitled to any position, but we serve as the behest of our beloved organisation, the ANC. I will be forever grateful,” said Mchunu.