INLSA
Willies Mchunu
Sipho Khumalo
sipho.khumalo@inl.co.za
Who will replace KwaZulu-Natal ANC chairman and Premier Zweli Mkhize if he takes over as the party’s treasurer-general in December? This is the question dominating provincial politics in the final weeks before the party’s national elective conference in Mangaung.
If he is elected, it will mean three of the top six positions in the ANC will be held by people from KZN – President Jacob Zuma, Baleka Mbete as chairwoman and Mkhize as treasurer-general.
However, some ANC insiders say eThekwini branches feel this would be overkill for KZN. They favour Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor as treasurer-general.
In the event of Mkhize’s taking up the position, the two positions he holds now would be left vacant.
Senzo Mchunu
INLSA
“The question is: Do we have someone credible to lead the ANC and the province?” asked a high-ranking ANC member.
Six names have been mentioned, including Education MEC Senzo Mchunu and Transport and Community Safety MEC Willies Mchunu.
Senzo is the former ANC provincial secretary who is credited with delivering KZN for Zuma at the Polokwane conference in 2007.
He is now in a tough post as MEC for education, where he is charged with turning around a department facing a chronic infrastructure backlog and improving the quality of education.
He was touted as a possible challenger to Mkhize for chairmanship before the provincial conference this year.
Willies, a veteran of the trade union movement in KZN and now deputy chairman, is being considered on the basis of seniority. He has acted as premier on a number of occasions. However, his detractors suggest his age, 64, and ill-health might rule him out for these challenging positions.
Nomusa Dube
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Others believe this could be a chance for the province to have its first female premier, with the names of KZN Speaker Peggy Nkonyeni and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube featuring.
Nkonyeni is a former MEC for health and is the current ANC KZN treasurer. But, say some, her two brushes with the law might limit her chances. However, she has enjoyed the support of Cosatu, the SACP and some elements of the ANC Youth League in KZN.
Nkonyeni was charged with fraud and corruption in 2009, but the charges were later withdrawn. She was later charged with corruption in the Amigos trial, but, once again, the charges were withdrawn.
Dube is a former Speaker of eThekwini and the ANC KZN deputy secretary who has also served as an ambassador to the Czech Republic.
Mike Mabuyakhulu, who was a rising political star until the tumultuous build-up to Polokwane, is said to be a dark horse in this race, having fallen out of favour politically.
“He is a good administrator… and will be a good leader. But, with this being politics, the way he carried himself ahead of Polokwane [he was linked to the Mbeki faction] will rule him out,” said an ANC insider.
ANC provincial spokesman Senzo Mkhize said Zweli Mkhize’s name had been nominated by branches, and no decision had been taken on what would happen after this.
