KZN Premier Mchunu resigns after pressure from ANC

KwaZulu-Natal premier Senzo Mchunu has resigned after being asked to do so following an ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) meeting and appeals from the party’s national working committee (NWC).

Mchunu tendered his resignation as premier on Monday afternoon despite insistence from his supporters that only president Jacob Zuma had the power to fire him. The premier lost his position as chairperson of the ANC in KZN and as member of the PEC at the provincial congress last year, to former secretary Sihle Zikilala. 

Since then a bitter feud between factions loyal to Mchunu and those loyal to Zikilala has erupted in the province, culminating into the boycott of the ANC ward councillor selection process, the alleged assassination of candidates and a public spat between supporters of the two leaders. After the congress, Mchunu’s supporters also staged a march to the ANC’s provincial headquarters and claimed the outcome was rigged.

The Mail and Guardian has learnt that last week the ANC in KZN told Mchunu he had until the close of business on Monday to tender his resignation and transport MEC Willies Mchunu has been deployed to act as interim-premier.

Senzo Mchunu is understood to have buckled to pressure to step down after meeting with a senior delegation from the ANC’s NWC on Monday afternoon.