INLSA
The newly elected chairman of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, Senzo Mchunu, right, confers with his defeated opponent, Willies Mchunu, at the ANC provincial general council earlier this year. Willies remained the ANCs deputy chairman in KZN. PICTURE: Bongani Mbatha
Durban – As KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize’s departure from the province for Luthuli House draws closer, the battle for power appears to have resurfaced between the ANC’s provincial heavyweights, chairman Senzo Mchunu and his deputy, Willies Mchunu.
Top ANC insiders in the province told The Mercury that a provincial cabinet reshuffle was on the cards and that one of the Mchunus was expected to become premier.
Mkhize will need to focus on his national position as the ANC’s treasurer, a post he was elected to in Mangaung last year.
As the party gears up for the general election next year, he is increasingly needed for fundraising.
Sources said if the national office decided to take Mkhize sooner than at the end of his term, the reshuffle, which would affect the Education Department, which Senzo leads, or Willies’s Transport, Community Safety and Liaison department.
One source said that even Co-operative governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube’s name had been raised as a possible contender for the top job.
In KZN, it has been the norm for the ANC chairman to become the head of the provincial government.
In Gauteng, Nomvula Mokonyane is the premier while ANC provincial chairman Paul Mashatile is the arts and culture MEC.
In the Eastern Cape the premier is Noxolo Kiviet, while the ANC chairman, Phumulo Masualle, is the finance MEC.
There are those who want Senzo to focus on improving matric results as the education MEC, and not to be taken from this critical portfolio.
“Senzo is known for his passion for education and he has been doing an excellent job,” said one high-level ANC member. But, another source said, as the chairman, Senzo should replace Mkhize.
“The party is not short of capable people to lead education. If Senzo is redeployed to replace Mkhize, surely there would be someone else to take the Education Department through exams.”
Earlier this year, the Mchunus were embroiled in the battle for provincial chairmanship, which Senzo won.
It has also been reported that, early this year, President Jacob Zuma stressed that Mkhize was needed to bolster the party’s election campaign.
An ANC member in Durban said the eThekwini region felt that Mkhize should join Luthuli House full-time.
“The eThekwini region will have a meeting in Durban tomorrow, and this will be on the agenda because it cannot be left hanging. All the regions need to discuss the matter and give recommendations,” the member said.
An ANC leader in the Preva Khumalo region (Ilembe District) said although the matter had not yet been formally discussed in his region, there were feelings that Willies could be a better caretaker premier. This region supported Willies during the provincial elective conference.
“If Zweli resigned as premier, we will have to nominate three candidates – of whom Senzo and Willies would be included,” said the leader.
Despite the talk, ANC spokeswoman Khusela Sangoni-Khawe was adamant that the party had not decided to call Mkhize to its headquarters.
“As hard as it is for Mkhize to work as premier and treasurer, the party is of the view that he is doing a sterling job as the premier – so he should complete his term,” said Sangoni-Khawe.
bongani.hans@inl.co.za
The Mercury
