Executive Council of KwaZulu-Natal explained

The Executive Council of KwaZulu-Natal is the cabinet of the executive branch of the provincial government in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Members of the Executive Council (MECs) are appointed from among the members of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, an office held since May 2024 by Thami Ntuli of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).

Mkhize premiership: 2009–2013

After his election in the 2009 general election, Premier Zweli Mkhize announced his new Executive Council on 11 May 2009.[1] Weeks afterwards, Bheki Cele resigned as MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, in order to become National Police Commissioner. On 29 July, Mkhize announced that Cele would be replaced by Willies Mchunu, and that Nomusa Dube-Ncube would in turn take over Mchunu's portfolio, Local Government and Traditional Affairs.[2] In November 2011, Mkhize announced a reshuffle of his cabinet which affected four portfolios.[3]

Term!Party
Premier of KwaZulu-NatalZweli Mkhize20092013ANC
MEC for FinanceIna Cronje20092013ANC
MEC for HealthSibongiseni Dhlomo20092013ANC
MEC for EducationSenzo Mchunu20092013ANC
MEC for Economic Development and TourismMike Mabuyakhulu20092013ANC
MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural DevelopmentMeshack Radebe20112013ANC
Lydia Johnson20092011ANC
MEC for Human Settlement and Public WorksRavi Pillay20112013ANC
Maggie Govender20092011ANC
MEC for Transport, Community Safety and LiaisonWillies Mchunu20092013ANC
Bheki Cele20092009ANC
MEC for Local Government and Traditional AffairsNomusa Dube-Ncube20092013ANC
Willies Mchunu20092009ANC
MEC for Social DevelopmentWeziwe Thusi20112013ANC
Meshack Radebe20092011ANC
MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and RecreationNtombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha20112013ANC
Weziwe Thusi20092011ANC

Senzo Mchunu premiership: 2013–2016

When Senzo Mchunu succeeded Zweli Mkhize as Premier in September 2013, he retained Mkhize's Executive Council but appointed Peggy Nkonyeni to replace himself as MEC for Education.[4] Following the next general election in May 2014, in which Mchunu was elected to a full term as Premier, he again largely preserved the composition of the Executive Council; he made only two new appointments, replacing the MEC for Finance and MEC for Agriculture. He also effected a minor restructuring of the Executive Council, transferring environmental affairs from the Agriculture and Rural Development portfolio to the Economic Development and Tourism portfolio.[5] [6]

Term!Party
Premier of KwaZulu-NatalSenzo Mchunu20132016ANC
MEC for FinanceBelinda Scott20142016ANC
Ina Cronje20132014ANC
MEC for HealthSibongiseni Dhlomo20132016ANC
MEC for EducationPeggy Nkonyeni20132016ANC
MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental AffairsMike Mabuyakhulu20142016ANC
MEC for Economic Development and Environmental AffairsMike Mabuyakhulu20132014ANC
MEC for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentCyril Xaba20142016ANC
MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural DevelopmentMeshack Radebe20132014ANC
MEC for Human Settlement and Public WorksRavi Pillay20132016ANC
MEC for Transport, Community Safety and LiaisonWillies Mchunu20132016ANC
MEC for Cooperative and Traditional AffairsNomusa Dube-Ncube20132016ANC
MEC for Social DevelopmentWeziwe Thusi20132016ANC
MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and RecreationNtombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha20132016ANC

Willies Mchunu premiership: 2016–2019

Willies Mchunu replaced Senzo Mchunu as Premier in May 2016 and the following month he announced a reshuffle of the Executive Council, in which he fired four MECs and appointed Mxolisi Kaunda to take over his own former portfolio as MEC for Transport and Community Safety.[7] Senzo Mchunu's supporters described the reshuffle as a purge of politicians who had supported Senzo Mchunu's failed bid to gain re-election as Provincial Chairperson of the governing ANC.

Term!Party
Premier of KwaZulu-NatalWillies Mchunu20162019ANC
MEC for FinanceBelinda Scott20162019ANC
MEC for HealthSibongiseni Dhlomo20162019ANC
MEC for EducationMthandeni Dlungwana20162019ANC
Peggy Nkonyeni20162016ANC
MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental AffairsSihle Zikalala20162019ANC
Mike Mabuyakhulu20162016ANC
MEC for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentThemba Mthembu20162019ANC
Cyril Xaba20162016ANC
MEC for Human Settlement and Public WorksRavi Pillay20162019ANC
MEC for Transport, Community Safety and LiaisonMxolisi Kaunda20162019ANC
MEC for Cooperative and Traditional AffairsNomusa Dube-Ncube20162019ANC
MEC for Social DevelopmentWeziwe Thusi20162019ANC
MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and RecreationBongi Sithole-Moloi20162019ANC
Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha20162016ANC

Zikalala premiership: 2019–2022

Pursuant to the May 2019 general election, Sihle Zikalala was elected Premier and announced his new Executive Council.[8] On 11 September 2019, he appointed Bheki Ntuli as MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison; Ntuli succeeded Mxolisi Kaunda, who had left the provincial government to become Mayor of eThekwini.[9] On 17 November 2020, Zikalala announced that Nomusa Dube-Ncube, formerly the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, had swopped portfolios with Ravi Pillay, formerly the MEC for Finance.[10] In January 2021, Ntuli died; he was replaced in March by Peggy Nkonyeni, formerly the MEC for Public Works and Human Settlement, who in turn was replaced by Jomo Sibiya.[11]

Term!Party
Premier of KwaZulu-NatalSihle Zikalala20192022ANC
MEC for FinanceNomusa Dube-Ncube20202022ANC
Ravi Pillay20192020ANC
MEC for HealthNomagugu Simelane-Zulu20192022ANC
MEC for EducationKwazi Mshengu20192022ANC
MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental AffairsRavi Pillay20202022ANC
Nomusa Dube-Ncube20192020ANC
MEC for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentBongi Sithole-Moloi20192022ANC
MEC for Public Works and Human SettlementJomo Sibiya20212022ANC
Peggy Nkonyeni20192021ANC
MEC for Transport, Community Safety and LiaisonPeggy Nkonyeni20212022ANC
Bheki Ntuli20192021ANC
Mxolisi Kaunda20192019ANC
MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional AffairsSipho Hlomuka20192022ANC
MEC for Social DevelopmentNonhlanhla Khoza20192022ANC
MEC for Arts and Culture, Sports and RecreationHlengiwe Mavimbela20192022ANC

Dube-Ncube premiership: 2022–2024

On 10 August 2022, Nomusa Dube-Ncube was elected Premier following Sihle Zikalala's resignation from the office; she announced her new Executive Council the following day, making several significant changes from Zikalala's cabinet.[12] [13] In late January 2023, the ANC announced that Zikalala would resign from his position as MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in order to join the National Assembly;[14] Bongi Sithole-Moloi took over his position in the Executive Council a week later, and Sithole's former portfolio, Agriculture and Rural Development, was in turn filled by Super Zuma.[15] The Executive Council was reshuffled once again on 23 May 2023 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Amanda Mapena. The MEC for Public Works and Human Settlement Ntuthuko Mahlaba was appointed to succeed Mapena as the MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture while Sipho Nkosi joined the Executive Council and took over Mahlaba's position.[16]

Term!Party
Premier of KwaZulu-NatalNomusa Dube-Ncube20222024ANC
MEC for FinancePeggy Nkonyeni20222024ANC
MEC for HealthNomagugu Simelane-Zulu20222024ANC
MEC for EducationMbali Frazer20222024ANC
MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental AffairsSiboniso Duma20222024ANC
MEC for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentSuper Zuma20222024ANC
Bongi Sithole-Moloi20222023ANC
MEC for Public Works and Human SettlementSipho Nkosi20232024ANC
Ntuthuko Mahlaba20222023ANC
MEC for Transport, Community Safety and LiaisonSipho Hlomuka20222024ANC
MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional AffairsBongi Sithole-Moloi20232024ANC
Sihle Zikalala20222023ANC
MEC for Social DevelopmentNonhlanhla Khoza20222024ANC
MEC for Sports, Arts and CultureNtuthuko Mahlaba20232024ANC
Amanda Mapena20222023ANC

Ntuli premiership: 2024–present

No party won a majority of seats in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature in the 2024 provincial election. The African National Congress, previously the party's governing party, collapsed to third place while the newly established uMkhonto weSizwe won a plurality of seats in the legislature. The Inkatha Freedom Party won the second-most seats in the legislature and opted to form a "Provincial Government of Unity" with the ANC, the Democratic Alliance, and the National Freedom Party.[17] The IFP's Thami Ntuli was elected Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, while the ANC and the DA received the Speaker and Deputy Speaker position in the legislature.[18] On 18 June 2024, Ntuli announced his Executive Council comprising four IFP members, three ANC members, two DA members and one NFP member.[19]

Term!Party
Premier of KwaZulu-NatalThami Ntuli2024IncumbentIFP
MEC for FinanceFrancois Rodgers2024IncumbentDA
MEC for HealthNomagugu Simelane-Zulu2024IncumbentANC
MEC for EducationSipho Hlomuka2024IncumbentANC
MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental AffairsMusa Zondi2024IncumbentIFP
MEC for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentThembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa2024IncumbentIFP
MEC for Transport and Human SettlementsSiboniso Duma2024IncumbentANC
MEC for Social DevelopmentMbali Shinga2024IncumbentNFP
MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional AffairsThulasizwe Buthelezi2024IncumbentIFP
MEC for Public Works and InfrastructureMartin Meyer2024IncumbentDA
MEC for Sports, Arts and CultureMntomuhle Khawula2024IncumbentIFP

See also

References

  1. Web site: 11 May 2009 . Statement by Dr Zweli Mkhize at his inauguration as the Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal . 2023-01-08 . South African Government.
  2. Web site: 29 July 2009 . KwaZulu-Natal cabinet statement following its sitting in Pietermaritzburg . 2023-01-08 . South African Government.
  3. Web site: 15 November 2011 . Changes to the KZN cabinet – Zweli Mkhize . 2023-01-09 . Politicsweb . en.
  4. Web site: 2013-10-07 . Nkonyeni bags KZN education MEC position . 2023-01-08 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
  5. Web site: 26 May 2014 . The new KZN cabinet – Senzo Mchunu . 2023-01-08 . Politicsweb . en.
  6. Web site: Hans . Bongani . 27 May 2014 . No place in KZN cabinet for Ina Cronjé . 2023-01-08 . IOL . en.
  7. Web site: Harper . Paddy . 6 June 2016 . 4 MECs gone in KZN cabinet 'purge' . 2023-01-08 . City Press . en-US.
  8. Web site: 27 May 2019 . Premier Sihle Zikalala announces his KZN cabinet . 2023-01-08 . News24 . en-US.
  9. Web site: Mavuso . Sihle . 11 September 2019 . New KZN Transport MEC assumes office on sad note after son's mysterious death . 2023-01-08 . IOL . en.
  10. Web site: 17 November 2020 . Premier Sihle Zikalala on reconfiguration of Provincial Executive Council . 2023-01-08 . South African Government.
  11. Web site: Magubane . Thami . 10 March 2021 . KZN Premier appoints new MEC for Transport following Bheki Ntuli's death . 2023-01-08 . IOL . en.
  12. Web site: 11 August 2022 . Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube: Introduction of the new members of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council . 2023-01-08 . South African Government . en.
  13. Web site: 11 August 2022 . KZN Premier Dube-Ncube announces new executive council . 2023-01-08 . Polity . en.
  14. Web site: 1 February 2023 . Zikalala resigns as Cogta MEC . 2023-02-07 . South Coast Herald . en-US.
  15. News: Mavuso . Sihle . 7 February 2023 . Former KZN ANC Provincial secretary Super Zuma gets cabinet post in provincial reshuffle . en . IOL . 2023-02-07.
  16. Web site: Maliti . Soyiso . Mini shuffle for KZN Cabinet as two new MECs announced . 2023-05-25 . News24 . en-US.
  17. Web site: Singh . Orrin . KZN Premier Thami Ntuli ready to hit the ground running . 2024-07-05 . EWN . en.
  18. Web site: Maliti . Soyiso . COALITION NATION Provincial government of unity installs IFP premier in KZN . 2024-07-05 . News24 . en-US.
  19. Web site: Ludidi . Velani . 2024-06-18 . New KZN Premier Thami Ntuli announces cabinet . 2024-07-05 . Daily Maverick . en.