Durban - The supporters of former KwaZulu-Natal premier Senzo Mchunu feel betrayed by his decision to resign.
It was announced late on Monday that Mchunu, who had been under pressure from the ANC's provincial executive committee, had resigned and would be replaced by Willies Mchunu.
This was later confirmed by the ANC at an emergency press briefing. The party said it had “met with comrade Mchunu on Friday to convey the decision of the movement which he accepted with a great sense of humility”.
As the news filtered down on Monday, those close to him said they felt betrayed as they had insisted he should fight the attempts to force him out.
“We have confirmed that he has resigned, secretary general of the ANC Gwede Mantashe had told him to resign,” said a source in the Senzo Mchunu camp.
“We feel we have been betrayed by the decision. This is now a problem; how do you fight for someone who has resigned? This resignation has betrayed us,” he uttered despondently.
The source, who was unaware that Mchunu had resigned until the news broke on Monday afternoon, had, just 10 minutes earlier, told The Mercury that they had advised the premier not to resign.
Also read: Opposition, experts and public weigh in
Sthenjwa Nyawose, who was prominent in leading marches by ANC members opposed to the election of new provincial chairman Sihle Zikalala, was lost for words at hearing the news.
“Hawu, he’s resigned? That’s very strange because we were not expecting that but please contact the ANC for it to comment,” said Nyawose before switching off his phone.
Nyawose led the group that wrote to the party’s national leadership at its headquarters in Luthuli House, complaining that something was amiss regarding the counting of votes that led to Mchunu emerging as the defeated candidate in November last year.
During the media briefing, the party said Mchunu would be deployed to the National Assembly.
“We also wish him well in what will be his new responsibilities subsequent to his resignation from the position of the premier.”
It said the current MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, would be elected as the new premier.
“We have chosen comrade Willies Mchunu because of his seniority, experience and skills demonstrated over many years of service in government.”
Willies Mchunu’s appointment as premier leaves a vacancy in the two departments he currently leads. However, the party would not be drawn on who was likely to fill the positions.
Senzo Mchunu had no option but to accede to the ANC’s instruction to vacate his post, said provincial secretary Super Zuma, when asked what would have been the consequences of his refusal to resign.
“I don’t think we would have had to deal with that,” he said.
This was because Senzo Mchunu was a “disciplined” member of the party who was “subjected to organisational discipline”.
“It was not an issue because we knew that we were dealing with a comrade who understands that organisation,” he said.
Read more: Willies Mchunu replaces Senzo as KZN premier
“We don’t work on the basis of if’, hypothetical questions. We are an organisation with principles; we’ve got a constitution and we work on the basis of the code of conduct of the ANC,” provincial chairman Sihle Zikalala said.
He said Mchunu remained “a leader” of the party as he had not been expelled.
Mchunu, in a statement, confirmed the resignation.
He said he had been informed of the decision to recall him on Friday morning.
Regarding his non-attendance of Sunday’s National Prayer Day event in Durban, he said the reasons given for his absence were “not true”.
“Neither I nor my family have made any statement or demand’ regarding the management of the current situation.
“I have, however, had a chat with the secretary general (Gwede Mantashe) on the matter and raised my reservations about its management, specifically the role of head office in it,” he said.
The party refused to comment on this last night.
“I did call Mantashe to consolidate my understanding of what was unfolding.
“I was, among other things, driven by the feeling that dignity, integrity and fairness are always important in circumstances of this nature, more so where it has to do with ANC internal processes,” he said.
His redeployment to the National Assembly was confirmed to him by Mantashe.
“He specifically explained the decision to me to allow a provincial government reshuffle and their intention of deployment to the National Assembly,” he said.
As a parting shot, he said his administration was “encouraged that government had worked for the people and delivered”.
The ANC would also not discuss the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle.
“We are here, dealing with matters (resignation) for which the ANC has processed; we will not be dealing with matters that the organisation has not processed,” said provincial secretary Super Zuma.
Provincial chairman Sihle Zikalala denied allegations that the PEC had levelled six charges against the former premier.
Who is EDWARD SENZO MCHUNU?
Born in April 1958 at eNhlwathi in the area of KwaHlabisa, eMkhanyakude District.
He is married to uThungulu district municipality mayor, Thandeka Mchunu, with whom they have four children, two girls and two boys.
He completed his high school education at Amakholwa High School, Sinathing in Pietermaritzburg.
He obtained a Secondary Teachers’ Diploma in 1982 and completed his BA degree through Unisa with majors in Education and International Relations in 1986.
In 2002 he completed in one year his two-year Masters Programme in Political Transformation through the University of Free State.
He has served as chairman of the education portfolio committee from 2004 to 2009; MEC for Education in KZN and provincial chairman of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal. He was premier of the province from September 2013 until his resignation on Monday.
Source: Office of the Premier
Who is THEMBINKOSI WILLIES MCHUNU?
Born in May 1948, in Ladysmith, grew up in Chesterville.
Was part of the ANC underground structures in the 1980s, was a unionist in the 1970s and has played various roles in leadership in the province, including being part of the peace talks between the ANC and IFP.
He was the first co-ordinator of the joint working committee of the UDF and Cosatu in pursuit of peace with the IFP (1988); served as chairman of the ANC Northern Natal Region (1990); deputy speaker of the Legislature in KZN (1994); ANC provincial executive committee member (1995); SACP provincial chairman (1998); executive member of the provincial SA Civic Organisation; and Speaker of the KZN Legislature to date (2004).
He is MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison; chairman of the parliamentary executive board; and chairman of the rules standing committee.
He has also been the MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs.
http://www.kzncomsafety.gov.za/ and Wikipedia
The Mercury