The newly inaugurated Premier of KwaZulu Natal Thami Ntuli has announced his cabinet. Ntuli who took over from Nomusa Dube-Mcube was inaugurated today at the packed Woodburn Rugby Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
WOMEN IN HIGHER POSITIONS
Delivering his speech, Ntuli from the Inkatha Freedom Party, said that he was inspired by the party's late founder Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi's teachings as he embarks on a journey of being a premier of the province. "I wish to state for the record my appreciation to all members of this legislature who voted two female leaders to lead this legislature. Thespeaker Nobeko Boyce and deputy dpeaker, Mmabatho Tembe respectively. They were not elected simply because they are women. Rather, they assumed these positions because they are leaders in their own right and have shown their capabilities," Ntui said. He added, "Today, we are reminded of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi's words, and I quote, 'There is something special about women. Whenever they are given a task, they perform it diligently'."
NEW CABINET
Ntuli said he has faith in the government of provincial unity. Announcing his cabinet, he also reminded the members of the executive council (MEC's) to never betray the people of KZN who voted for them. "There will be a process that ensures that we monitor and evaluate the performance of every member of the executive. To the appointed members of the executive, I appreciate that we come from different political homes, and we campaigned with different manifestos. However, now is the time to put the people of KwaZulu-Natal first. All of us are expected to serve with honesty, dignity, and diligently," he added. Ntuli's cabinet is as follows, Public Works will be headed by Lucas Meyer (DA), Finance MEC is Francois Rogers (DA), Agriculture, Thembeni Madlopha Mthethwa (IFP), Transport and Community safety, Siboniso Duma (ANC), Sport MEC is Mntomuhle Khawula (IFP), Economic Development will be headed by Reverend Musa Zondi from the IFP, Thulasizwe Buthelezi from the IFP, is the new MEC of Cogta, Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane from the ANC retains his position and Social Development MEC is Mbali Shinga from NFP. Meanwhile unhappy uMkhonto weSizwe Party members protested outside the stadium during Ntuli's inauguration claiming that the NFP seat was a fraud.
