Acting Judge President Isaac Madondo;

Speaker of the Legislature - Honourable Nontombeko Boyce; 

The Leader of the Ruling Party, the ANC - Honourable Sboniso Duma;

The Leader of the Opposition, the IFP – Honourable Velenkosini Hlabisa;

Honourable Members;

Director General Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize and HODs 

Members of all political parties; 

The people of KwaZulu-Natal

May I start by thanking the Acting Judge President  Isaac Madondo for taking time off your court schedule to preside over this sitting of this House to elect the Premier.

May I further express my appreciation to all the members of this House for your participation, which has undoubtedly proved beyond reasonable doubt that democracy is alive in KwaZulu-Natal.

As the new Premier I wish to acknowledge that you remain the representation of the will of our people throughout the corners of this province.

As I assume my new responsibilities, we will maintain a good working relations with all of you. We will have regular briefings on matters of service delivery.

Madam Speaker, when we ushered in a free and democratic South Africa, we also celebrated the unyielding efforts of many compatriots who made the ultimate sacrifice in their quest to liberate this country from jaws of poverty.

Millions of people celebrated the opportunity to elect leaders of their choice into a democratic government that represents their aspirations.

The majority of people, who had been subjected to the jaws of poverty for decades, celebrated the prospects of seeing their suffering disappearing. 

It is for these reasons that throughout my years in as an elected public representative I have sought to do what is in the best interest of the people of this province.

For our people, any of us, who are elected representatives, are a continuation of that struggle for the creation of a better society and a better country. We dare not disappoint the people of this province.

Ever since I joined the struggle for freedom as a young activist, all the decisions I have made, together with a collective over the past 28 years, have been solely aimed at the upliftment and the realization of a better life for the people of KwaZulu-Natal. Nothing has changed and nothing will change.

Where necessary, as guided by the ANC as  governing party and honourable members, I will work with all categories of staff in the Office of the Premier in order to make an impact.

Critically, we will always subject ourselves to the guidance of honourable members – religious leaders, traditional leaders, captains of industry and ordinary members of society whom we must serve with diligence.

At this stage, I wish to address hounorable member of the EFF. It is untrue that there was an misappropriation of funds under my watch in the Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

This is the matter that was raised by the former MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development. In any event, if such misappropriation of funds had occurred, the Office of the Auditor General would have uncovered evidence thereof during its audit of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development or COGTA.

Honourable Members, we commit the Office of the Premier to play a much more assertive and visible role in providing leadership and coordinating key and priority government programmes that will drive us towards the achievement of our Provincial Vision. 

The Office of the Premier therefore, will monitor and evaluate on a regular basis all provincial government departments, public entities and municipalities in relation to the impact on service delivery.

Let me hasten to point out that we are not intending to usurp any functions, roles or responsibilities of other line function departments, but we need to have our finger on the pulse of this province and must be able to intervene where necessary as guided by the ANC, as a governing party.

It is against this context that I am expecting the Provincial Planning Commission to monitor our progress, not only to the extent that we are able to grow the economy of this Province, but even more importantly, the extent to which we are succeeding in growing a shared economy with broader participation in a diversified economy.

As I draw towards conclusion, I wish to pay tribute to my predecessors, especially Sihle Zikalala for the hard work.

They left behind a catalogue of achievements and a wonderful spirit of camaraderie amongst colleagues and comrades.  I offer to sustain this.

As women, we don’t take for granted the fact that you have made history. It is for the first time that we have a female First Citizen ever in this province.

Under the Boer Republic of Natalia – a male was a leader.

Under the Colony of Natal, which was proclaimed in 1843 – a man was a leader.

Under the homeland of KwaZulu, which was granted self-government under apartheid – a male, was a leader.

Ever since we attained democracy in 1994, men have been leading this province.

The whole country is celebrating the fact that the ANC has made a conscious decision to ensure that the 6th Premier under its banner is a female.

Importantly, this smooth transition from the previous leader to the current Premier is a reflection of democracy and the growing level of maturity within the governing party.

Lastly, the Office of the Premier will continue with efforts to imbed a responsible, clean and caring government. We want government employees to project the values of a caring government that responds to the needs of the people.

We will ensure transparency, accountability and good governance in all spheres of government by working with chapter nine institutions such as the Human Rights Commission, Public Protector and the Auditor General.

We will deepen our democracy by creating space for ordinary members of society, civil society and human rights activists to partner with government to improve and asses the quality of service delivery using Operation Sukuma Sakhe as a tool.

I thank you all.