Premier’s decision to attend Zuma Solidarity event is proof that the ANC does not care about KZN’s people

Issued by Francois Rodgers, MPL – Leader of the DA in the KZN Legislature
06 Jun 2022 in Press Statements

The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the absence , in person, of both KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala, his Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane from last weeks’ Legislature Sitting. This after they decided to attend a Solidarity Prayer Day for former President Jacob Zuma in Nkandla.

According to a report, other ANC politicians in the province who attended include KZN Legislature Chief Whip, Super Zuma, former KZN Social Development MEC, Weziwe Thusi and ANC MPL, Vusi Dube.

That the Premier and his Health MEC, as cabinet members, chose to attend an event in support of keeping the disgraced former President out of jail is damning proof that ANC party politics come before their duties to the people of KZN.

The Sitting included an important debate on KZN’s health committee report on the state of psychiatric institutions in the province. It also included Oral Questions to the Premier – a critical oversight mechanism for opposition parties – which is seldom part of the programme.

Issues raised by the DA included updates on forensic audit outcomes regarding an e-procurement tool introduced by Treasury as well as feedback on the ongoing devastating water crisis in the Ugu District.

That the Premier could not be bothered to attend – and instead answered the questions online – is a slap in the face to KZN’s people.

Ongoing ANC internal factionalism has already caused great suffering for our province’s citizens. KZN is yet to bounce back economically from the devastating looting and riots of July 2021. This while many are still experiencing trauma as a result of the horrific events that took place.

Then there are the ongoing political killings in our province, many of which are also linked to internal strife, which also place the day-to-day lives of our citizens at risk.

In attending the solidarity event, the Premier has shown – once again – that he does not care about the future of our province or its people. The only place for Zikalala and his ANC is out of government. The people of KZN need to show them the door when they go to the ballot box in 2024.