Kimberley - A new Premier for the Northern Cape will be inaugurated within the next few days.
This comes after the ANC’s provincial executive committee (PEC) finally arrived at a decision following months of speculation and internal wrangling.
The current Premier, Hazel Jenkins, has officially agreed to step down on medical grounds and will hand over to the MEC for Environmental Affairs and Nature Conservation, Sylvia Lucas, in the near future.
ANC spokeswoman, Gail Parker, confirmed Lucas' upcoming appointment and said that they had consulted with Jenkins’ family over her decision to be medically boarded.
“We deliberated over the medical opinions and reports from her doctor. We felt it appropriate to grant her the space and time to recover, without any pressure to see if she was medically fit to resume her duties.
“It was decided that at this stage she is not able to be employed in full capacity. We have also been involved in a long process with the administration of her pension,” Parker said. She indicated that Jenkins would have served four years in office by May this year after she was inaugurated in May 2009 after the general elections.
Jenkins collapsed while delivering the State of the Province Address in February 2012 after suffering a brain aneurism.
Parker added that the provincial government was willing to accommodate Jenkins at a later stage, should she feel well enough to do so.
“It will involve a process of evaluating her medical fitness and doctors certifying that she is fit enough to return to duty.
“She has not indicated if she wishes to remain in Kimberley. It is a matter of where she can have access to the best medical treatment, whether it be in De Aar, Bloemfontein or Cape Town.
“The ANC cannot elaborate on personal issues where her husband and children need to be consulted.” Parker added that the party’s PEC had, in consultation with its national executive committee (NEC), come to the conclusion that Lucas was the best suitable candidate to be the Premier.
She said that whether Lucas would continue to be at the helm of the Province after next year’s general elections would depend on whether she would make it onto the nomination list.
“ANC’s provincial chairman, John Block, will lead the 2014 election campaign after which a new batch of Members of Parliament and Members of the Provincial Legislature will be elected.”
Parker indicated that the post for the MEC for Environmental Affairs and Nature Conservation would have to be filled once Lucas vacated it for the position of Premier.
“The PEC did not discuss the exact date of the inauguration although it will be done within the next two weeks. The Premier will be allowed to appoint her cabinet in consultation with the leadership.
“We are not privy to whether there will be a complete cabinet overhaul in the near future. The PEC has not met to discuss any reshuffling although it may call an emergency meeting at any time,” Parker said.
She pointed out that the Province was never in “crisis” because it was left in the capable hands of the Acting Premier, Grizelda Cjiekella.
Parker, on behalf of the ANC Women’s League in the Province, expressed support for the incumbent Premier.
“It is good news that the ANC has confidence in and once more allowing a woman to lead the Province.”
Lucas, who indicated that she was not formally informed of the her upcoming appointment, said that it would be an honour to serve as the Premier.
“As a disciplined cadre, I am willing to take up any position within the ANC. I am not afraid of hard work and I am ready to take up any challenge with vigour,” she said on Monday.
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