Last Wednesday, KZN Premier presented his last State of the Province Address. Halfway through his presentation he experienced difficulties resulting in the Leader of Government Business Sihle Zikalala taking over.

The immediate outpouring of messages wishing Mchunu speedy recovery showed the impact that he has made throughout his career as a trade unionist, a struggle activist and an elected public representative.

Mchunu represents the crop of leaders who pioneered the democratic government after we attained democracy in 1994. He has served this province with commitment and dedication and in some cases putting the interests of those who voted for the African National Congress (ANC) above his personal interest and his health.

When he experienced difficulties, I wondered whether the young people of today appreciate the sacrifices of leaders such as him.

Mchunu was the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison when we hosted for the first time, the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Few months before the World Cup, the province hosted the ANC National General Council. It should be noted that it was during that year in which Mchunu asked his party, the African National Congress to allow him to step down. The ANC leadership pleaded with him reconsider his decision and eventually turned down his request. This is so, because at that time, his conflict resolution skills were required by the ANC.

The organization had developed a programme aimed at sustaining unity within its structures, the work which started shortly after Polokwane Conference. Importantly, the party was preparing for Mangaung Conference which finally elected Dr Zweli Mkhize as Treasure General.

During that period, Mchunu was the glue that kept this province together and preached unity within ANC structures and the alliance. He complemented the work of KZN provincial Chair Dr Zweli Mkhize and Sihle Zikalala who had just been elected as Provincial Secretary following the redeployment of Senzo Mchunu as MEC for Education.

Ahead of Mangaung it was felt that all sources of conflict needed resolution long before the conference starts. The view was that if the conference is fed with divisions, it produces a fray of factional bundles that are difficult to unite when there are losers and winners who share hatred and bitterness. This had to be avoided.

The pre-Polokwane divisions were immeasurably wide, the leadership contest was fierce and the scars too deep. The topmost leaders had lost capacity to intervene and bring all sides to sober senses. The rules of civility in internal engagements were out the window and nobody had the courage to plug the haemorrhaging artery of the organizational values. KZN ANC leadership felt an urgent need to attend to this.

It was the wisdom of Mchunu and the leadership collective that helped unite KwaZulu-Natal ahead and after Mangaung. The ANC leadership and membership came back from Manguang united and went on to ensure that the ANC won the 2014 general elections with a resounding victory.

The spirit of unity propelled the leaders of the organization deployed in the provincial government and other spheres of government to work harder to demonstrate that they appreciated the confidence expressed by millions of people in the ANC.

Great progressed made since 2014 was highlighted in SOPA and during the debate on Thursday. Mchunu expressed his profound appreciation to the people of KwaZulu-Natal for the support he has received since 1994.

Perhaps, the youth of today need to acknowledge the fact that we remain highly privileged, to have lived so soon after the end of apartheid and seen the dawn of democracy, lived during the days of Madiba through a once in a lifetime event such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Critically, those youth leaders who are in leadership position in various structures of the ANC are extremely privileged to have inherited the membership of this great school for leadership  that has produced statesmen, intellectuals, thinkers and leaders of note.

The former President of the country JG Zuma witnessed the last State of the Province Address from Mchunu, a leader with whom he pioneered democratic government in a province that was ravaged by political violence. Photos of Zuma together with Deputy Speaker Meshack Radebe reminded many of his sterling work in bringing about peace in Hammarsdale.

During this period, youth leaders of today need to do a serious reflection. The question is - what is expected of the youth of today, born and growing under a free and democratic dispensation as opposed to J.G Zuma, Sbu Ndebele, Dr Zweli Mkhize, Senzo Mchunu and Willies Mchunu and many others who were thrust into the jaws of apartheid.

They fought tirelessly until the attainment of this democracy. Despite being elected to serve a democratic government, they never rested instead they doubled their efforts to ensure that this democratic government represents the aspirations of all the people of KwaZulu-Natal.

Over the past ten years, the Provincial executive Committee of the ANC commissioned a process of assessment of the performance of the deployees in the Executive and Legislative arms of the State.  The Premier, the Speaker, the MEC's and various members are always subjected to this process.

The ANC runs an activist Legislature that has strong oversight responsibility over the executive. It has created a platform for dialogue through sectoral parliaments for the people by hosting the senior citizens, youth, the disabled, women, workers in the Legislature and open discussion with the leaders in government. This improves communication and helps people to table matters for attention and seek solutions in matters of service delivery.

As Mchunu pointed out in his speech despite having had to face numerous challenges and in the midst of adversity, they have been able to execute their mandate and move this province forward towards a Vision of being “a prosperous Province, with a healthy, secure and skilled population, living in dignity and harmony, acting as a gateway to Africa and the World’’  

Ndabezinhle Sibiya is the Head of Content and Knowledge Management in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government Communications. He writes in his personal capacity