Durban - His fortunes may have waned within the ruling party, but the DA at least has good things to say about Senzo Mchunu.
The KwaZulu-Natal premier has fared well in the DA’s annual report card of the provincial cabinet, with the opposition party crediting this to Mchunu’s repositioning of the Office of the Premier (OTP).
Releasing the report card in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday, DA legislature caucus leader Sizwe Mchunu scored the premier generously at six out of 10 points.
This was a marked improvement on last year, when he was rated at three.
“The premier’s rating by the DA has improved this year largely because he appears clear in terms of his intention to reposition or realign the OTP,” he said.
Mchunu has fallen out of favour with the ANC, which opted not to re-elect him as its provincial chairman earlier this month.
The DA named Finance MEC Belinda Scott, Public Works MEC Ravi Pillay and Agriculture MEC Cyril Xaba as the best performers, while Transport and Community Safety and Liaison MEC Willie Mchunu and Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo were named as the poor-performing MECs.
Mchunu was scored one out of 10 in community safety, while Dhlomo got two.
Helping to bring up the rear, according to the DA, were legislature speaker Lydia Johnson and Social Development MEC Weziwe Thusi, as well as Willies Mchunu in his transport portfolio, and Arts and Culture MEC Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha, who were all rated at three.
Co-operative and traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Economic Development Mike Mabuyakhulu were scored at five along with Sibhidla-Saphetha in her sport and recreation portfolio, and Pillay in the human settlements portfolio.
Sizwe Mchunu said apart from the few better performing individuals in the executive councils, there was also a general lack of understanding about the critical role they play as MECs.
“The big question is how much longer these particular individuals will remain in their roles, and whether their days are, in fact, numbered.
“One thing is certain – change is coming. How this change is managed is what the DA is interested in,” Mchunu said.
He also said it was up to the ANC to deal with the poor performing MECs.
“The bad students must be dealt with by their parents. They were not appointed by the DA, but by the ANC.”
Mchunu defended the scorecards, which have over the years been dismissed as a public gallery gimmick.
“Millions of South Africans vote for the DA … so we have to hold the ANC accountable,” he said.
Daily News
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