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SACP: SACP Moses Mabhida Province on the resignation of the Premier and the deteriorating political situation in KZN

KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu
Photo by GovtZA
KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu

25th May 2016

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/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the province of Moses Mabhida, Kwa-Zulu Natal held an extended Provincial Working Committee Meeting on 24 May 2016 in Durban. The meeting was convened to reflect on current political developments in the province, mainly the widely reported resignation of the Premier Cde Senzo Mchunu. The meeting further discussed the widely mooted shake up of the KZN provincial executive council, the outbreak of violent protests and the deteriorating socio-political situation in the province.

The deployment of the Premier or any political leaders in governance is the prerogative of the ANC as the governing Party. The Premiers are recommended or appointed internally by the national executive committee of the ANC after consultation with its alliance partners. This is a hisoircal practice. The final appointment of Premiers lies with the legislatures, through voting procedures by all political parties represented. The Premier is therefore politically accountable to his or her Party and constitutionally to the provincial population through the legislature and to the country through the executive authority of the state.

On 3 March 2016 the Alliance Political Council was held to prepare for an Alliance Summit set to take place on 2 and 3 April 2016. It was in that meeting where the question of the mooted reshuffle was raised.

The ANC apologised for failure to consult in time with the alliance, and indicated that the report on this looming reshuffle is a misinterpretation or interpretation of an exercise they undertook to assess the executive council of the province. It further claimed this was "a normal practice", and was not intended for executive reshuffle. A debate about this assessment ensued with the alliance pointing out serious gabs on the conduct. It was also raised in that meeting that information at hand is that the ANC's provincial executive committee preference in the leadership in government was already presented and motivated in its national executive committee.

The ANC admitted and disclosed the fact. The SACP spoke against the reshuffle going to local government elections encouraging focus on unity and campaigning for an overwhelming victory of the ANC. This positions was supported by COSATU and SANCO.

The assertion by the ANC that their pronouncement on this matter followed after, we quotes, "consultation with the Tripartite Alliance made up of the SACP, COSATU, and SANCO which also endorsed the proposal made by the leader of the Alliance, the African National Congress” was a misrepresentation of facts, untrue and dishonest. The SACP, COSATU and SANCO were only subjected to what amounted to political management, rather than meaningful consultation, on a decision already taken and on an exhausted process to move towards its execution.

The SACP finds the manner in which the whole issue, including the resignation of the Premier, most unfortunate and unpleasant. That the whole issue was poorly managed with insensitivity is confirmed by the content of the statement by the former Premier when he was addressing the media on Monday. To quote the few lines, “all statement made so far about my reaction to what was discussed in that meeting (with the ANC provincial leadership, on Friday) are not true”. “All statements I have seen about my absence from the National prayer yesterday are not true”, “neither I or my family have made any statement or demand regarding the current situation…. ”

It must also be noted with interest how the Premier reacted on the six accusations that were apparently levelled against him when he remarked about them based on the Friday meeting with the provincial leadership of the ANC: “The six allegations that were levelled against me, I did see at least two of them on TV later during the weekend”. This quote tells it all, especially of what we are faced with in this matter.

The appointment of Cde Willies Mchunu  as Premier
Taking note of all the issues we have raised, as the SACP we would like to congratulate Cde Willies Mchunu in his new appointment. We have no doubt on his competency to take forward the good work that was undertaken by the former Premier who has elevated the Province to the third well-governed and performing province in the country. This is not an easy achievement knowing the character of the province which is most rural and densely populated. Cde Willies is a long serving member of the ANC. He has been doing well in his area of deployment; Transport, Safety and Liaison.  

Deteriorating socio-political situation

The province is facing instability and political intolerance.  The rate of political killings seem to be worsening across the political spectrum, largely in the ANC, NFP and IFP. As we move towards local government elections there are indications from the rising violent protests that more political killings may be coming. This is evidenced by the fact that most political leaders from these organisations, especially those from the alliance, are now under heavy personal protection. This cannot be a desirable and sustainable situation in our political space. 

A lot of efforts have been spared in the past to bring this province into stability, peace and development. This as a result of collective work of all political parties and the government, led by the ANC. This major achievement appears to be waning under the cloud of power struggles.

The SACP has been following the crumbling stability of the environment in the province since the mysterious death of Cde John Mchunu who was the chairperson of Ethekwini Region, Cde Simo Mhlongo who was the deputy chairperson of the Far-North and the still unsolved killings of many political leaders, amongst them Cde Sbu Sibiya former Chair of Ethekwini, Cde Mshibe former REC member of Ethekwini, Cde Wandile Mkhize former REC Member of South Coast, Cde Mdala Zwane a leader of the Party in Okhahlamba, Cde Dumisani Zwane and recently the District Chairperson of the Young Communist League and deputy chair of the ANCYL in Emalahleni, Cde Wandile "Mangqasha" Ngubeni where Cde Mafika Mndebele, the chairperson of the ANCYL in the that region narrowly survived assassination. 

These killings have also targeted functional leaders of the government like municipal managers and executives.  People must be reminded of a cold-blooded assassination of the acting Municipal Manager in KwaDukuza, Cde Nathi Mthembu. Recently the Deputy City Manager in UMsunduzi Mr Joe Dlamini was murdered in his office. There are other similar cases in the IFP and the NFP.
Currently, candidate nomination process related killings are taking place. There are strings of hit list reported cases doing rounds. The latest one being the UMsunduzi hit list which includes the name of the Mayor and the suspended Municipal Manager.

A number of SACP Leaders have received death threats numerous times, amongst them the Provincial Secretary Themba Mthembu, the Second Deputy Provincial Secretary Msizi Nhlapho and the District Secretary of Greater KwaDukuza who survived an assassination attempt.  Some of the killings are localised like in Glebe and KwaMashu hostels where a combined number exceeding 100 have died.

The SACP strongly believes this situation represents a near catastrophe and should have been treated as very serious. There is under reporting and a lack of prioritisation  to deal with this situation.  KwaZulu Natal has been considered very stable for more than fifteen years now. The question is what has changed? Why this degeneration?

These things are not happening on their own. It is for this reason that the SACP strongly believes that a debate and investigation now must ensue on who is behind this state of affairs, who is to benefit on all this. As the SACP we decided to propose a meeting of all political parties, the police, the government led by the premier, the churches and business to reflect on this situation with an intention to come up with a solution.

The SACP calls for the establishment of the Provincial Peace Monitoring Forum for local government elections made up of all stakeholders from government, police and the community.
The SACP also wants to issue a warning, to those people who think they can achieve their political ends by using violence and political assassination, that even the apartheid regime did this and failed.

Our experience is that you cannot unleash a reign of terror to the people hoping you are going to succeed under the situation. People have always rebelled and fought against such acts. Let us all fight and commit to peace and stability, political tolerance and development. This is all what the people want!

The SACP would like to reiterate the statement issued by our district of Eric Stalin Mtshali on the recent judgement by the Durban high court on the two councillors from KwaNdengezi who were sentenced to life imprisonment.  We agree with the district that the string of deaths in KwaNdengezi were political and for commercial gain.

The SACP congratulates the tireless effort of the Department of Safety and Liaison under the leadership of Cde Willies Mchunu, the investigative officers, the whole unit involved and the police in general for the work they have done to bring the perpetrators of that violence in KwaNdengezi to justice.

The SACP also believes that the identity of the killers of Cde Phansi are known and people should now feel free to come forward with evidence to put this case to rest.

 

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