The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has named finance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube as the new premier-elect replacing Sihle Zikalala. She is the first woman elected as premier of the province.
The ANC made the announcement during a media briefing on Monday morning in Durban, following the resignation of Sihle Zikalala last week.
Zikalala resigned last week after being defeated in the contest for the position of chairperson in the province by Siboniso Duma at the KZN ANC’s 9th provincial conference in July. Zikalala also failed to make it into the ANC’s provincial executive committee (PEC).
Ncube expressed her appreciation to the ANC in the province and the national leadership for trusting her with the job.
“Right now, we are in the month of August, and I am sure our leaders such as Victoria Mxenge, Dorothy Nyembe, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela are rejoicing that during the month the ANC as champion of nonracialism, non-sexism is indeed ensuring that women who are capable are given responsibility to lead. I humbly accept and wish to thank the ANC and commit that we will not disappoint the people of KwaZulu-Natal,” she said.
The premier-elect is from eThekwini region and was born in KwaMashu. She holds a master’s degree in public administration and is pursing a PhD.
Dube-Ncube served as the speaker of eThekwini municipality before she took up the position of ambassador to the Czech Republic. She was most recently the MEC for finance.
The premier-elect will be voted in at the provincial legislature on a date which is yet to be announced.
Source: The Citizen, Business Day, Herald Live, image from Herald Live: Nqubeko Mbhele