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Public safety and transport MEC Mchunu is brought in to paper over the cracks in the provincial ANC, but is seen as a stepping stone for Zikalala
‘When I came into government politics, I learnt one thing … 24 hours is a very long time in politics,” says Willies Mchunu, KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN’s) seventh premier, at a briefing on the heels of his election in the province’s legislature buildings in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday afternoon. “I live this.’’
The cliché is well worn – at 68, so is the ANC KZN deputy chairperson – but it’s more than a little appropriate, given the manner in which Mchunu has assumed office.
At the beginning of the week, “Jersey”, as he is known among his comrades for his habit of wearing a pullover under his suit jacket, even on the hottest of days, was still the province’s public safety and transport MEC.
His predecessor, Senzo Mchunu (no relation), was still the premier.
Before Monday was over, Senzo had capitulated and resigned after the ANC ordered him to do so in response to unrelenting pressure for his removal from the supporters of Sihle Zikalala, who beat him in the race for party provincial chairperson in November.
On Tuesday, Willies, a former organiser with the Metal and Allied Workers’ Union (Mawu), which later became the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), was sworn in as acting premier, ahead of his formal election the following day. He will serve the rest of his predecessor’s term, which ends in 2019.
A former speaker of the provincial legislature and a long-term MEC, Willies’ appointment is seen as a stepping stone for Zikalala, who only joined government after his election as ANC chairperson in November, becoming its premier elect in the 2019 national and provincial elections.
As such, his premiership is set to be a holding one. He’ll lead the province while Zikalala, who is likely to become economic development MEC next week, gains government experience.
Willies stood as Zikalala’s deputy last November after losing out to Senzo at an earlier provincial conference. He was called to replace Zweli Mkhize after he was elected as ANC treasurer-general in 2012, giving him a second chance at the premiership, albeit an indirect one.
While opposition parties on Thursday did not take the traditional stance of fielding premier candidates, in essence allowing Willies to be elected unopposed, they are not happy about either the forced resignation of his predecessor or his ability to lead the province.
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader in the House, Blessed Gwala, who worked with Senzo both in government and in the peace structures, sees “nothing positive” in the reshuffle, which he describes as “the ANC falling to pieces, due to divisions and camps”.
“There was nothing wrong with the premier, who was actually operating within the programmes of the ANC and was a leader who was opposed to corruption,” says Gwala.
Gwala predicts Willies’ short term in office will be a tough one.
“Normally, a premier comes in and establishes programmes. This one can’t. The cracks are getting wider every day and ANC people are not willing to work with each other,” Gwala says. “He will have a difficult term.”
Willies, a staunch supporter of President Jacob Zuma, is seemingly stung by questions about his keeping Zikalala’s seat at the Cabinet table warm until 2019.
“Whatever happens in the future, I do not know,” he says. “I cannot say that I am holding for anybody. The ANC did not say so in asking me to avail myself. They said to me now that the premier has resigned, be premier. I didn’t ask why and I didn’t ask for how long. I don’t think it is a condition. I think the ANC just gave me a task and they expect me to perform it. If I haven’t done it the way they hoped I would do it, they are welcome to [replace] me.”
Willies is also reluctant to talk about the wholesale Cabinet reshuffle the ANC Youth League wants in return for its backing of Zikalala’s slate.
“It would be very abnormal of me to come into government and carry out a reshuffle when I haven’t worked out yet what is happening,” he says. “I need to look at programmes and align my thinking. As soon as I have done that, I will be in a position to say what is needed. I request that I be allowed to settle.”
Willies has a reputation as a disciplinarian and as a person who toes the party line since his involvement with the ANC began in the 1970s.
Born in Ladysmith in 1948, his family moved to Durban, where he grew up in Chesterville. He became involved in community and trade union struggles in the highly politicised township and was involved in the formation of Mawu – for which he was an organiser – and Numsa.
It was then that he met his wife, Dudu, herself a staunch community and political activist, who friends say was his closest confidante until her death last month.
Willies moved from Durban to Empangeni in the mid-1980s, becoming Numsa’s provincial education head and playing an increasingly active role in setting up ANC underground structures across the Tugela River. He was elected as chairperson of the ANC’s first above-ground structures in then northern Natal.
When political violence escalated, Willies, himself the target of several attempted hits, was one of the architects of the peace processes, including the Lower Umfolozi Peace Accord and the National Peace Accord, which ultimately helped end the killings.
Willies became deputy speaker of the then IFP-led provincial legislature in 1994, a post he held for a decade before being appointed speaker. He was then appointed MEC for transport and public safety, a post he held until this week.
DA provincial leader Sizwe Mchunu (no relation) says that despite Willies’ long government experience, the party has “reservations” about his appointment.
Not only was transport one of the worst performing departments, according to the DA’s scorecard last year, but policing in the province, Willies’ other portfolio, was badly lacking.
“His appointment as premier leaves much to be desired. Transport is one of the worst performing ministries in KwaZulu-Natal. Crime is a constant problem. Umlazi is the country’s murder capital. These things are symbolic of a lack of decisive and hands-on leadership on the part of Willies Mchunu,” he says.
