Durban - Organised business in KwaZulu-Natal says it is important for the province’s new administration, led by new Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, to hit the ground running and attend to the province’s pressing needs, namely resuscitating and getting the KZN economy up and running again.
In welcoming the new appointments, organised business also committed itself to working with the government to unlock economic opportunities and ensure that the province enters a path to economic growth.
KZN Growth Coalition co-chairperson Moses Tembe congratulated Dube-Ncube in reaching the apex of provincial government, expressing confidence that she would be equal to the task.
“The biggest challenge facing this province is reviving the economy and our belief is that if there is focus on that, and removal of red tape for business to operate, we can jointly make the kind of impact that is demanded of this moment,” said Tembe.
He noted how the province had been badly battered by the Covid-19 lockdown, the July riots and the recent floods.
“If we do not focus on the economy, regardless of who gets appointed, it will amount to nothing.
“It is in everyone’s best interest to focus on the economy and attend to the growing gap between the rich and the poor,” Tembe said.
Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business CEO Melanie Veness echoed the business commitment to work with the government in unlocking opportunities.
“We trust that the new leadership will honour the trust placed in them and be an accountable and responsive government. We hope that they will prioritise the repair and replacement of failing and ageing infrastructure at local government level, so that a conducive environment is created for business to operate in, so that jobs can be created,” Veness said.
Sthembiso Madlala, who is the convenor of civil society in the KZN Economic Council, said the new leadership in government had no choice but to focus on the economy.
“We are hopeful that the new administration will pursue the transformation path which was chartered by the previous administration,” said Madlala.
He added that as civil society, they shared the sentiment that economic development should be one of the focus areas for the government.
“We think that rural and township economies in the province need to be attended to with urgency because the impact of Covid-19 and last July’s riots and looting is for all to see,” Madlala said.
Economic revival will be top of the agenda for new Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) MEC Siboniso Duma, who is also ANC KZN chairperson.
Other appointments include Mbali Frazer as the new Education MEC, Human Settlements MEC Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba and MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture is Amanda Mapena.
In a surprising move, former premier Sihle Zikalala has become MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs taking over from Sipho Hlomuka who has become MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison. Former Transport MEC Peggy Nkonyeni has become Finance MEC, a position which became vacant when Dube-Ncube became premier.
The MECs for Health, Agriculture and Social Development retained their portfolios.
The appointment of Frazer as Education MEC was welcomed by teacher unions, who said they were encouraged by the fact that she had a teaching background.
National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) commended the role played by out-going MEC Kwazi Mshengu, saying he had been supportive and hands-on throughout his term.
“Naptosa hopes that the timing of this appointment, weeks before the NSC (matric) exams, does not bring any disruption to the provincial Department of Education. Naptosa KZN looks forward to working with the honourable Frazer in the province,” said KZN CEO Thirona Moodley.
South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) also hailed Mshengu for a job well done, saying he had left a department that is in a stable state.
Sadtu KZN secretary Nomarashiya Caluza added that they welcomed the new MEC and they believed that her background as a former teacher would come in handy.
National African Teachers’ Union leader Sibusiso Malinga also stressed the importance for the new Education MEC to work with all unions.
“This is a welcomed development to have an educator as an MEC, a female one at that,” said Malinga.
However, opposition parties took a dim view of the changes.
IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa questioned the removal of Edtea MEC Ravi Pillay and Human Settlements MEC Jomo Sibiya, saying they had been doing a good job but had been overlooked due to political considerations.
“Put aside his politics, but Sibiya was doing a good job and was visible on the ground and the new MEC will take almost a year to familiarise himself with the department and that will impact negatively on the delivery of housing,” said Hlabisa.
He also sounded alarm bells over the announcement of Nkonyeni as the new Finance MEC, saying this was a portfolio that needed a steady hand, insisting her past performances in other departments were a cause for concern.
DA leader Francois Rodgers said yesterday simply reflected that the so-called Taliban faction had taken control of the ANC and the KZN legislature.
“It is also a very strong indication that the interests of KZN’s people and the future of our province are not being placed ahead of party politics.”
New KZN Cabinet:
- New MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs is Siboniso Duma. He is also the Leader of Government Business.
- New MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs - Sihle Zikalala
- MEC for Health - Nomagugu Simelane
- MEC for Social Development - Nonhlanhla Khoza
- MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works - Dr Nkululeko Ntuthuko Mahlaba
- MEC for Finance - Peggy Neliswa Nkonyeni.
- MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development - Bongi Sithole-Moloi
- MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison - Sipho Hlomuka.
- MEC for Education - Mbali Frazer
- MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture is Amanda Mapena