Mchunu treated 'like toilet paper’

The ANC chairman in KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Zikalala was assigned the seat in the legislature usually occupied by the premier of the province. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

The ANC chairman in KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Zikalala was assigned the seat in the legislature usually occupied by the premier of the province. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

Published Nov 27, 2015

Share

 

Durban - Predictions that Premier Senzo Mchunu could become a lame duck after losing the chairmanship of the ANC in the province seemed to come trueon Thursday when ANC chairman Sihle Zikalala took over a seat in the legislature traditionally reserved for the premier.

Zikalala was seated at the desk, which had a tag reading “Honourable S Zikalala, Leader of the Majority Party” - the seat which had until then been occupied by Mchunu and all other premiers before him. Mchunu was shifted to the seat next to his old one.

The move signalled the end of Mchunu’s tenure as leader of the ANC in the legislature.

Speaking anonymously, an ANC insider who had previously supported Mchunu’s campaign for the party leadership said Mchunu’s camp had been hurt by the new development.

Another described this as the start of “turmoil ...two centres of power”.

“From now on he is going to be controlled,” he said.

“They are going to treat him like toilet paper, and this is a directive from the national office. He is kept as the premier for the sake of the local government elections. After that he would be out of that position. This is really hurting.”

After being sworn in in the ANC caucus room, Zikalala said he would create unity among ANC members and those of the opposition parties.

But opposition parties were annoyed that the sitting had to be delayed for two hours for Zikalala’s swearing in.

“Normally a swearing in takes place in the house in front of all members, if it takes place while the sitting has already started. Delaying the sitting is unprocedural,” said DA leader Sizwe Mchunu.

Zikalala said he had expected a hostile reception.

Mchunu, who was shifted to a new seat next to Zikalala, was away in Cape Town attending the sitting of the National Council of Provinces with his counterparts from other provinces.

The sitting, which opposition members boycotted, was meant for mid-term budget reviews, tabling of the adjustment estimate bill, debate on 16 Days of No Violence Against Women and Children, and important motions.

The opposition ignored Speaker Lydia Johnson when she asked the house to welcome Zikalala with a round of applause. They yelled at her, asking who had given Zikalala the right to occupy the seat which had since the start of democracy been reserved for premiers.

Sizwe Mchunu said the name tag, which was recently mounted, was a sign that Johnson gave preference to Zikalala over other leaders.

After opposition parties had walked out, they lined up to be interview by journalists.

Sizwe Mchunu said the DA withdrew its participation because the legislature had exclusively invited journalists to the swearing in of Zikalala, which he said had never happened to other members

However, most journalists said the ANC provincial office had invited them to the events.

 

“What we saw today is a disgrace to democracy and the functioning of this legislature. It is complete disregard of law, rules of engagement, the rules of operation and conduct,” said Mchunu.

NFP parliamentary caucus leader Vikizitha Mlotshwa said Zikalala’s preferential treatment was wrong.

“I am the leader of the NFP parliamentary caucus, but this is not written on my desk. What does Zikalala have that I don’t, as we are both caucus leaders?

“If that tag is not removed we are not going to participate in today’s sitting.”

IFP MPL Joshua Mazibuko said his party had written a letter to Johnson to protest.

ANC deputy chief whip Nontombeko Boyce said it was up to each party to arrange how their MPLs sat.

“The journalists had been called by the ANC, not the legislature. Other parties have the right to call journalists to witness the swearing in of their members,” she said.

 

The ANC’s provincial executive committee issued a statement labelling opposition parties’ concern “empty gestures”.

“In fact, this is tantamount to interference in ANC caucus decisions. As the ANC, we have never concerned ourselves about who sits where on the DA and IFP and the NFP benches. We consider this none of our business.

“These actions amount to nothing more than cheap politicking aimed at leveraging a few minutes of fame for the politically bankrupt opposition,” said ANC provincial secretary Super Zuma.

The Mercury

* Use IOL’s Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.

Related Topics: