Premier Senzo Mchunu’s resignation is in the best interests of unity in the African National Congress (ANC), the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in KwaZulu-Natal said on Monday night.

The league welcomed his resignation following the recommendation of the ANC's provincial executive and national executive councils.

“This is a long standing decision of the ANCYL in the province that, in the best interests of unity and service delivery in the province... comrade Senzo Mchunu should be redeployed to the National Assembly,” provincial secretary Thanduxolo Sabelo said in a statement.

The league thanked Mchunu for his service and was confident he would still make a significant contribution in Parliament.It called on the ANC to beef up its provincial executive with former ANCYL leaders, to speed up service delivery.

It said it had a number of “bright minds” in the legislature, including Sihle Zikalala, Mthandeni Dlungwane, Mxolisi Kaunda, Nomagugu Simelane, Nontembeko Boyce, Bongi Sithole, and Mdumiseni Ntuli.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal announced on Monday night that it had accepted Mchunu’s resignation and nominated deputy chairperson, Willies Mchunu, to succeed him.