By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) government’s political leaders wrapped up its two-day provincial Cabinet lekgotla in Mayville, Durban on Wednesday afternoon.
The cabinet lekgotla was attended by mayors, senior departmental managers, advisory bodies and executives of provincial public entities and national state-owned companies.
Kwazulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has announced the retention of ANC provincial chairperson Siboniso Duma as the leader of government business.
He made the announcement during a media briefing after a two-day Cabinet lekgotla on Wednesday.
Ntuli said that the decision was taken because of Duma’s experience in this position.
“I have decided to re-appoint MEC Siboniso Duma to the position of the leader of government business. His role will be based on connecting the provincial government with businesses and state entities. Duma has been in this position even in the previous administration.”
“But he is not a deputy premier; he is a leader of government business, “said Ntuli.
Duma also emphasised that as he took over this position, he is not the deputy premier.
“It is an unusual appointment. Usually the business leader is the MEC for economic development, tourism and environmental affairs. However Duma is the MEC for transport and human settlements.”
Ntuli also said that he will meet the Presidential Working Group that is overseeing the eThekwini Municipality.
The embattled municipality has been flooded with problems which have crippled service delivery in Durban.
Ntuli further said there were plans to deal with the issue of a construction mafia in the province that has disrupted many government projects, especially in Durban townships.
The lekgotla also resolved that all municipalities will be assisted to get clean audits.
The premier highlighted that it was the responsibility of the lekgotla to come out of the meeting with a plan that will lift the province out of economic despair.
Elected by the KZN Legislature last month during the provincial Parliament’s first sitting after the May general elections, Ntuli and the other members of the KZN Cabinet are part of the government of provincial unity (GPU), composed of the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP.
The GPU became necessary after the May general elections failed to produce an outright winner in KZN.
Ntuli said despite belonging to different political parties, members of the KZN government have common goals.
The GPU was facing resistance from uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party.
Despite being the largest in the KZN Legislature, the MK Party found itself occupying opposition benches after the GPU parties had resolved to form a coalition that excluded the MK Party and the EFF.
Meanwhile National Freedom Party (NFP) president Ivan Barnes and his entire executive team have been dealt a heavy blow by the Pietermaritzburg High Court which clipped their political wings on Monday.
In its order, the court directed Barnes and members of his national executive committee not to dismiss or suspend any party member pending the finalisation of the application of the 12 members who had petitioned the court challenging Barnes and the NEC not to suspend or dismiss members of the party without a disciplinary hearing.
The court has also ordered parties to show cause in court on September 19 for arguments on why the order should not be be made permanent.
Barnes and his NEC were hauled to court after he (Barnes) went on the rampage threatening members mostly holding government positions with dismissal or suspension letters.
The order means temporarily there is no leadership in the NFP since the court did not say who should take a decision in between now and the finalisation of the case.
There looming fears that instability in the NFP might destabilise political relations in KwaZulu-Natal. Currently, the GNU and the GPU do not have legal frameworks to regulate and guard the parties’ relationship.