NEWS & ANALYSIS

Don't reshuffle KZN cabinet to settle political scores – IFP

Rumours surface that Premier Senzo Mchunu was given marching orders

Don't reshuffle KZN cabinet to settle political scores - IFP

23 May 2016

Durban – Reshuffle the cabinet in KwaZulu-Natal to improve service delivery, but not to settle political scores, the Inkatha Freedom Party said on Monday.

This after rumours surfaced that Premier Senzo Mchunu was expected to resign on Monday after the party allegedly gave him his marching orders on Friday.

Although the party has neither confirmed or denied the latest developments, Mchunu’s absence from the National Prayer Day at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Sunday, which was addressed by President Jacob Zuma, further fuelled speculation.

While Mchunu’s name appeared on the programme, Transport MEC and leader of government business Willies Mchunu told the media that Mchunu had asked him to represent him because of another commitment.

The transport MEC has been tipped to become the next premier.

A source told News24 that, in a last minute attempt to save face, the party called the premier and asked him to attend the event, but he allegedly refused.

News24 understands that Senzo Mchunu was at home on Sunday.

IFP leader Blessed Gwala said the party was concerned about the political instability in the province.

"We are concerned that if this proposal is being influenced by the political infighting within the ruling party, it can serve to increase violence in the province.

"It would be very sad if the proposed reshuffle is being used as a vehicle to settle political scores or to reward those who support a particular grouping within the ANC..."

Gwala said, when appointing a premier and MECs, it was important to consider competence, experience and qualifications of the incumbents and not the political cabal with whom they were associated.

"We hope that the decision to reshuffle the cabinet is based on service delivery priorities and not for political expediency."

He said the party understood that when there were two centres of power in the province, there would be tensions.

"So we accept that there might be a need to reshuffle the cabinet as a normal political process which could be a consequence of the incumbent premier not being the chairman of his party in the province."

Gwala said a reshuffle would impact on provincial and departmental policies, as well as the staff in those departments.

"Political uncertainty can also have negative economic implications. Therefore we hope the process is managed in the interest of the province as a whole," Gwala said.

This article first appeared on News24, see here