Durban - Appointing Sihle Zikalala as the KZN MEC for economic development, tourism and environmental affairs was a clear sign that the ANC was not serious about the province’s economy, said the DA’s provincial leader, Zwakele Mncwango, on Wednesday.
Mncwango made the statement about the ANC provincial chairman’s appointment during a press briefing on Wednesday.
At the event, he introducted the party’s “confidential” local government election candidates, who had defected from other parties.
He said while communities of the province were facing poverty, the ANC’s appointment of Zikalala as the MEC was a sign that said “we are not serious about our economy in this province”.
“We really need change because if the governing party is not serious about creating jobs and creating our economy we must change it.
“That position requires someone who really understands the economy and who understand business. He does not even have experience in government. I don’t believe he is a person who can really sell our province, who can engage with investors and attract them to our province,” said Mncwango.
The candidates, introduced on Wednesday, were Ladysmith Minority Front councillor Rajendra Maharaj, uMhlathuze Municipality, Richards Bay, IFP councillor Christo Botha and Nkandla NFP councillor Sophie Buthelezi.
Mncwango also introduced Pietermaritzburg ANC activist Elliot Xaba, who is the human resource manager in the Umgungundlovu District Municipality, as the DA PR candidate in the district.
Buthelezi had been listed as the mayoral candidate for the Nkandla Municipality.
All four candidates said they did not leave their parties disgruntled and angry. They said they came to the DA because it had the capacity to drive service provision.
“I am not leaving the IFP on bad terms. In fact I got a very good working relationship with Prince Buthelezi as well with the provincial chairman, Blessed Gwala, and the leadership of the Uthungulu district of the IFP.
“But I have decided to make a change to the DA,” Botha said.
Xaba said he had retired from uMngungundlovu, but “we have a policy that if you retire in the middle of the year you have to go on until the end of the year”.
Mncwango said come August 3, Xaba would be the PR councillor, and he should sort out his employment with the district.
The Mercury