by Mayibongwe Maqhina
Durban - After the axing of four KwaZulu-Natal MECs, one resigned immediately as a member of the provincial legislature (MPL) while another was rumoured to have tendered her resignation.
Former Economic Development MEC, Michael Mabuyakhulu, dropped the bombshell on Monday hours after Premier Willies Mchunu had shown him the door.
“It is time to hand over the baton as an MPL and this I do with immediate effect,” Mabuyakhulu said.
He was axed hours earlier along with three other MPLs: Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha, Cyril Xaba and Peggy Nkonyeni.
Mabuyakhulu expressed his gratitude to the ANC for providing an opportunity to serve for 20 years as MPL with 17 as MEC in economic development and tourism, public works and finance and local government portfolios.
Mabuyakhulu said he remained a “proud and loyal” member of the ruling party.
“In the immediate future, I will work tirelessly for a decisive victory of the ANC in the upcoming local government elections,” he said.
Commenting on her axing, a relaxed Nkonyeni said she wanted to give an opportunity to the “leadership” to speak on the matter.
“I will tell you when I am ready about my future. For now I won’t comment,” she said.
However, two separate sources said Nkonyeni tendered her resignation on Monday afternoon.
Xaba said he had no qualms with his axing.
“We serve at the behest of the premier so we can leave it there,” he said.
Asked about his future plans, Xaba gave a prompt, “No comment.”
Sibhidla-Saphetha took to social media, Instagram, to express her feelings.
She posted a photo of her staff, whom she thanked for supporting her as MEC.
“I know (I) am a difficult person, but you were patient with me. Extend that to others as well. Love you all,” Sibhidla-Saphetha wrote.
Political analyst, Xolani Dube, said Mabuyakhulu’s resignation was not surprising.
“He can’t be an MEC only to be an ordinary MPL. It makes no political sense,” Dube said.
He also said politics nowadays was not necessarily about serving the people but about individual interests.
“He has done a lot for the government in the past 20 years,” Dube said.
He also said Nkonyeni could find herself in a difficult situation considering the SACP had to decide whether provincial secretary, Themba Mthembu, should take up an MEC post or not.
“Peggy Nkonyeni is in a serious dilemma. She is still in politics and is part of the SACP provincial executive committee,” Dube said, adding that she was likely to take the cue from the SACP.
He did not foresee Sibhidla-Saphetha stepping down as an MPL as “she needs an income”.
As for Xaba, Dube said he was a survivor who had served in government for years, was young and in all likelihood would stay on as an MPL.
ANC provincial spokesman, Mdumisani Ntuli, said he was unaware of Mabuyakhulu’s resignation unless it was tendered with the office of the party provincial secretary.
“We heard about Peggy’s resignation in the media,” Ntuli said.
“If they decide to resign because of the decision of the organisation to recall them as MECs, the ANC will welcome their decision,” he added.