By Neelam Rahim

The IFP has welcomed the election of Nomusa Dube-Ncube as the first female premier of KwaZulu-Natal but says she will have little authority over the province. Dube-Ncube was the province’s finance MEC before being elected to the position after the resignation of Sihle Zikalala. There is also speculation of a possible cabinet reshuffle in the province following her appointment.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, the IFP president, Velenkosini Hlabisa, said Nomusa Dube-Ncube is credible regarding abilities, record and experience. She also carries sufficient knowledge from being a councillor and a MEC in various departments.

According to Hlabisa Dube-Ncube would have made a good candidate in assisting the people of KZN but, unfortunately, was rejected by the ANC conference and now is going to be a premier over the MECs who defeated her in the conference.

He says during the day, she will be running the province. In the afternoon, she will have to report to the people she presides over during the day, compromising her and the people of KZN. 

The reason for this is in consequence management. In the event the MEC is not performing or has transgressed a particular law, she will not be in a position to take a tough stance against that MEC as they will be her authorities at the end of the day, he added. 

Regarding the IFP’s assessment of the outgoing premier of Sihle Zikalala, Hlabisa said in terms of a clean audit, it was good progress from the department as seven of them got clean audits, but it was not work achieved by him alone. The IFP, as official opposition, held the ministry’s account as far as the departments’ running.

“Zikalala is not a person who believes in working with the opposition parties in rebuilding the province of KZN and was very poor in the aspect of the corporation. And as a result, there was no working together of all political parties for the good of the people of KZN, which we hope Nomsa Dube-Ncube will open her doors and take positive contributions and not reject them because they come from the opposition.” 

Listen to the full interview on Radio Islam’s podcast below.