Durban – KwaZulu-Natal premier Senzo Mchunu remained silent on Friday over reports that he was set to get the boot.
Rumours abounded in political circles and three sources told the African News Agency (ANA) that Mchunu had received a letter of recall from the African National Congress (ANC), but no politician or member of the party was prepared to go on the record to confirm Mchunu’s imminent departure.
Mchunu’s spokesman said: “We have noted your query and [that] from the media houses….. regarding KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu and Provincial Executive Council. Our standing policy as the Office of the Premier is that we don’t comment on matters of deployment.”
But a highly-placed source within the office of the Premier confirmed Mchunu had received the letter of recall from the ANC on Friday.
“Yes it is true. It will be made official on Monday,” said the source.
However, party spokesman Mhlaba Memela said the party’s leadership had not received a letter of resignation and neither were they aware of the party asking the Mchunu to resign.
“He is still the Premier of the province,” said Memela, who was attending a ANC Provincial Executive Committe meeting in Port Edward.
None of the South African Communist Party (SACP) leadership could immediately be reached for comment.
Edwin Mkhize, the Congress of SA Trade Unions’ KwaZulu-Natal secretary, said: “If there is such a decision, we as Cosatu are not involved.”
He said that previously the ANC had issued a statement saying that they were not compelled to inform other members of the tri-partite alliance - Cosatu and the SACP - of any such decisions.
He said that such a decision would be “very concerning” if the alliance was not informed.
African News Agency