By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Thami Ntuli has on Tuesday announced the 10 members of his executive to lead portfolios in the province.
Ntuli made the anouncement at the inauguration ceremony held at the Woodburn Rugby Stadium in Scottsville.
He took the oath of office before the KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Thoba Poyo-Dlwathi.
In the province, the IFP has 15 seats; the ANC 14 seats; the DA 11 seats; and the NFP 1. The MK Party has 37 seats, while the EFF has only two.
Despite being the majority party in KZN, the MKP failed to make the cut in the provincial government, which is co-governed by the IFP-ANC-DA and the NFP coalition.
Ntuli was elected premier after a total of 80 votes were cast. Ntuli scored 41 votes and Inkosi Pathisizwe Chiliza of the MK Party 39.
Nontembeko Boyce was announced as speaker of the KZN Legislature. She got 41 votes while her competitor Mervyn Dirks received 39 votes.
The DA’s Mmabatho Tembe became deputy speaker. Out of 79 ballots, Tembe secured 40 votes while Ishan Herena Barciela of the MK Party received 39 votes.
The IFP leads four portfolios, including leader of government business and cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), agriculture and sports.
The ANC, with the second most portfolios, will lead health, education and community safety and transport, while DA will lead finance and public works while the NFP will lead social development.
Ntuli moved the community and safety department to his office.
This is the cabinet as announced by Ntuli:
1. EDTEA – Musa Zondi (IFP)
2. COGTA – Thulasizwe Buthelezi (IFP)
3. Health – Nomagugu Simelane (ANC)
4. Social Development- Mbali Shinga (NFP)
5. Public Works – Martin Meyer (DA)
6. Finance – Francois Rodgers (DA)
7. Agriculture – Thembeni Mthethwa (IFP)
8. Transport/Human Settlements – Siboniso Duma (ANC)
9. Education – Sipho Hlomuka (ANC)
10. Sport – Mntomuhle Khawula (IFP)
Meanwhile SA Police Services are on standby to repel any attempts at disruptions by aggrieved staunch supporters of the MK Party challenging the May 29 election results.
This as speculation was raging that MKP supporters would revolt against the election results, with party leader Jacob Zuma reiterating on Sunday that the elections were rigged.
Zuma alleged that 9 million votes were unaccounted for – and told his supporters to “take to the streets” to show their anger.
However, there has been no violence linked to the elections at this stage despite the police being on high alert since the staging of the elections amid high speculation that MKP supporters would heed the party leader’s call and take to the streets.