Pietermaritzburg - Sihle Zikalala’s first day in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature as leader of the ruling African National Congress kicked off in dramatic fashion on Thursday when three opposition parties stormed out in a huff over his decision to sit in the seat normally reserved for the province’s premier.
Members of the provincial legislature (MPL) from the Democratic Alliance, the Inkatha Freedom Party and the National Freedom Party staged a walkout during the sitting.
The problem, according to them, was that although Zikalala had replaced Senzo Mchunu as chairman of the ANC, Mchunu was still the province’s premier.
“We want to say that this is unprecedented when a new member gets to sit in the seat that is occupied by the premier,” said DA leader Sizwe Mchunu, before leading his members out of the legislature.
Zikalala filled a position in the legislature left vacant by Super Zuma, who has since become the new party’s provincial secretary.
Opposition parties made it clear that they expected Zikalala take the seat that had previously been occupied by Zuma, not that occupied by the premier.
MPLs are normally sworn-in at the Office of the Speaker, Lydia Johnson, but Zikalala took his oath at the party’s caucus room with party members present.
The DA leader suggested that the legislature had succumbed to pressure from the ruling party into making changes to accommodate Zikalala.
Senzo Mchunu, who was defeated by Zikalala in the race for the position of ANC provincial chairman at the party’s recent elective conference, was in Cape Town for the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) address by President Jacob Zuma on Thursday.
The NFP and IFP followed suit in walking out, accusing Speaker Lydia Johnson of allowing an abuse of power.
ANC deputy chairman Willies Mchunu said there was no confusion in the ruling party and opposition parties were making a meal out of nothing.
“We know that Sihle Zikalala is the leader of the ANC in the province and Senzo Mchunu is the leader of government and there is no confusion,” said Mchunu addressing the sitting.
He said the ANC was acting well within its rights as the ruling party.
Mchunu, who is also the MEC for Transport, Community Safety, and Liaison, told media afterwards that the absence of some members of the cabinet was not a snub on Zikalala as they were merely performing their government duties.
Economic Development MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu who was defeated in his quest to be the provincial treasurer was among the MECs who were absent at the Thursday sitting.
The Economic Freedom Fighters said while they were not happy with the new sitting arrangement they would engage Johnson instead of walking out
African News Agency
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