Durban - The ouster of KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu is likely to cause further divisions within the ANC and fuel the incidents of political violence in the province, warned a political analyst.
“If a person contested elections and lost, his removal from office causes embitterment and feelings of betrayal among his supporters and that could lead to divisions within the party,” said political analyst Somadoda Fikeni.
He was speaking following the news the Mchunu had tendered his resignation earlier on Monday.
Read: KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu steps down
Mchunu has been under pressure to resign following reports on Friday that the provincial PEC had ordered him to resign and gave him a Sunday deadline.
Mchunu had shunned several high profile government functions including a prayer session led by president Zuma on Sunday and the workers’ parliament of Saturday. While the official line was that he had been engaged elsewhere, sources said he was at home.
“This was a bad move for the ANC, especially coming to elections. The 40% or so of the people who supported Mchunu are unlikely to campaign in the run-up to the elections,” said Fikeni.
“Remember that this could be accompanied by a cabinet reshuffle and if that coincides with the removal of MECs who had been on the losing side, this could be interpreted as a purge,” he said.
He said the province, which saw a lot of political violence in the 80s and the 90s, could find itself in a similar situation again unless the winning slate was ready to extend an olive branch to the losing side.
Fikeni said Mchunu’s real option was being deployed to national government. “He cannot be a back bencher as his supporters would see that as further humiliation and could cause more tension.”
As the news of his resignation filtered down, those close to him said they felt betrayed by the news as they had insisted that he should fight the attempts to force him out.
“We have confirmed that he has resigned, Secretary General of the ANC Gwede Mantashe has told him to resign,” said a source in the Mchunu camp.
The source had earlier told The Mercury that they had advised the premier not to resign.
“He is very pained by what is happening to him. To be called by your brothers - this is the ANC and we are all brothers here - and they tell you that you must resign because you are underperforming and not aligning your government programmes.”
Mike Mabuyakhulu of Economic Development, Peggy Nkonyeni of Education, Cyril Xaba of Agriculture and Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation MEC, Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha could stand to lose their jobs, while MEC for Transport Community Safety and Liaison Willies Mchunu is expected to take over as the premier in the interim.
Another source in the ANC said Mchunu’s removal was a clear purge. “if you look at this thing, it’s the hangover from the provincial conference - all the people that are being recalled are people that had campaigned for Mchunu in the run up to the conference.
He said Mchunu did not have any options but to go. “This is deployment and not employment; if they say you must go you cannot refuse.”
Seemingly in an effort to distance the president from the situation, the Presidency released a statement saying the Constitution of the Republic empowered the president to appoint the deputy president, ministers and deputy ministers. “Such powers did not extend to the appointment of Premiers, who according to the Constitution are elected by the relevant provincial legislatures.”
The Mercury