KwaZulu-Natal's first ANC premier
Sibusiso Mboto
29 April 2004
KwaZulu-Natal's newly elected premier, S'bu Ndebele, caught many by surprise when he announced the members of the provincial Cabinet shortly after his election on Friday.
Ndelebe was unanimously elected premier at a ceremony in the provincial legislature in Pietermaritzburg overseen by Judge Vuka Tshabalala.
Ndebele was nominated for the position by outgoing premier Lionel Mtshali, in what many took as a gesture of reconciliation between Mtshali's Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the African National Congress (ANC) in the province.
KwaZulu-Natal's new Cabinet includes Dumisani Makhaye (housing, local government and traditional affairs), Zweli Mkhize, who retains his portfolio as health MEC, and Mike Mabuyakhulu, who returns to the portfolio of finance and economic cevelopment.
Former chairperson of the portfolio committee on safety and security, Bheki Cele, was appointed MEC for transport, safety and security, Ina Cronje is the new
MEC for education, while Gabriel Ndabandaba was takes over the agriculture and environmental affairs portfolio.
In a day filled with surprises, Amichand Rajbansi of the Minority Front party was offered the newly created portfolio of sport and recreation.
There are three ministerial positions that are still to be filled as part of the 11-member cabinet. Two posts (social welfare and public works) were offered to the IFP, but their members, Inkosi Nyanga Ngubane and Reverend Celani Mtetwa, subsequently turned them down. A third, additional cabinet post will soon be made available.
Willis Mchunu of the ANC was elected Speaker of the Legislature.
Creating jobs, tackling poverty
In his acceptance speech, Ndebele said: "The 2.7 million voters of the province have bestowed their trust upon us to deliver. We must work together to ensure that peace, democratic principles and development take place in all corners of the province,
regardless of whether it is in rural or urban areas."
Speaking at the weekend after his election as premier on Friday, Ndelele said job creation, poverty eradication, economic rejuvenation and dealing with the scourge of HIV/Aids would be the focal points of this premiership.
Other areas to receive immediate attention would include safety and security, eradicating corruption and creating a credible social service system, Ndebele said.
"We have many tasks and challenges ahead", Ndebele said, adding that his was an "open door" policy for all those who wanted to work for the betterment of the province, irrespective of political party affiliation.
Another task high on Ndebele's list was that of certifying the provincial constitution to spell out clearly the powers of the Zulu monarch and over 200 traditional leaders in the province.
"For the first time since 1879 (the defeat of the Zulus by the English army in Ulundi), His Majesty the King will be
officially recognised", Ndebele said.
"The Constitution will also increase the size of the Cabinet in order to ensure a more representative executive", he said.
Ndebele said he would also work towards the "synchronisation" of the national and provincial programmes, saying KwaZulu-Natal had for too long been out kilter with the economic, social and development policies of the rest of the country.
Source: BuaNews
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