‘Permanent acting premier’ Sihle Zikalala is widely believed to be the best candidate — but whether he will step in before or after the elections is not known
KwaZulu-Natal premier Willies Mchunu. Picture: JACKIE CLAUSEN
The 71-year-old premier took over in 2016 after his predecessor was forced by the provincial ANC leadership to vacate his position. Mchunu has spent a considerable amount of time on sick leave — he is understood to have been on sick leave since November last year — and has often been hospitalised. It is suspected that he has a heart condition.
In Mchunu’s absence, Zikalala was acting premier, often getting the nickname “permanent acting premier”. It was widely expected that Mchunu would relinquish his position and retire after the elections on May 8. His name does not appear in the list of ANC candidates heading for the National Assembly or the provincial legislature.
Mike Mabuyakhulu, Zikalala’s deputy in the provincial ANC hierarchy, is out of contention after being arrested with a group of officials late last year and is facing charges of fraud, corruption and money-laundering after being accused of pocketing millions allegedly meant for a jazz concert that never took place.
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