Appointment of SACP man as MEC not done to appease alliance partner - KZN ANC

6 June 2016

Durban – The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has denied that its surprise appointment of South African Communist Party provincial secretary Themba Mthembu as the new agriculture MEC was a move to appease the alliance partner.

The SACP last week threatened to pull out of the election campaign because they were not happy with how the nomination lists had been compiled.

But on Monday, newly appointed KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu, while addressing the media after reshuffling his cabinet, said Mthembu's appointment was based on "his understanding and experience in the ggriculture and rural development portfolio committee".

"Mthembu’s experience is going to be useful and I hope that everyone is going to sympathise with our decision," Mchunu said.

"His appointment has nothing to do with anything else. Government does not appease, it appoints people in terms of their capacity and the ability to do the work."

Mchunu, who replaced axed premier Senzo Mchunu last week, said he was trying to put together a team that would work well together.

"We have realised that they all have the capacity and the experience that we need," he said.

Last week, the SACP told the ruling party to get its house in order, with its Magwaza Maphalala District [eThekwini] executive committee claiming that certain processes had not been followed.

"We would like to put it on record, in our district, that it will be very difficult for the SACP to campaign for the imposed candidates in eThekwini region until all the hot spot areas like Folweni Township, Umbumbulu and Umlazi are attended to. All the ward disputes are dealt with fairly and honestly, all those who have violated the list process guidelines are dealt with and all those who topped the list during the ward conferences be retained,” the party said in a statement.

The ANC reshuffled the KwaZulu-Natal cabinet on Monday and Mthembu replaced Cyril Xaba as agriculture and rural development MEC.

The following MEC’s - Sport, Arts and Culture's Ntombikayise Sabhidla-Saphetha, Economic Development's Mike Mabuyakhulu and Education’s Peggy Nkonyeni – were recalled.

They were replaced by Bongi Sithole Moloi (Sport, Arts and Culture), Sihle Zikalala (Economic Development), Mxolisi Kaunda (Transport) and Mthandeni Dlungwani (Education).

This article first appeared on News24, see here.