The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce has congratulated new Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube who was sworn in on Wednesday.
Dube-Ncube – the first woman to be elected premier of KZN – was sworn in during a special sitting held in Mpofana Municipality.
‘As she enters the Office of the premier, I want to extend my very best wishes for success to her and her Executive Council,” said Boyce.
Accepting the position, Dube-Ncube, whose election as premier coincides with Women’s Month, said: “Madam Speaker, I rise inspired by the spirit of Winnie Mandela, Albertina Sisulu, Victoria Mxenge and many more other pathfinders of this freedom to salute all women of this province.
“Today, we have demonstrated without any shadow of doubt that as the African National Congress we are determined to sustain the struggle that was started by women of this country in 1950.”
Laying out her governance style, Dube-Ncube said: “Where necessary, as guided by the ANC [African National Congress] as governing party and honourable members, I will work with all categories of staff in the Office of the Premier in order to make an impact.
“Critically, we will always subject ourselves to the guidance of honourable members, religious leaders, traditional leaders, captains of industry and ordinary members of society whom we must serve with diligence.”
She said the Office of the Premier will monitor and evaluate regularly all provincial government departments, public entities, and municipalities concerning the impact on service delivery.
Dube-Ncube also thanked her predecessors.
“I wish to pay tribute to my predecessors, especially Sihle Zikalala for the hard work,” said Dube-Ncube, the former KZN finance MEC.
“They left behind a catalogue of achievements and a wonderful spirit of camaraderie amongst colleagues and comrades. I offer to sustain this.”
Zikalala resigned last week after losing the ANC chair of the province to Sboniso Duma in a hotly contested poll.
The new ANC Chairperson of KZN, Duma, who declined the premiership position, said: “Today we have elected the first ever woman premier to demonstrate our commitment as the ANC to ensure the total liberation of women.
“We are confident that Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube will strengthen all efforts aimed at ensuring the economic empowerment of women.
“As the ANC we have always held the view that the economic well-being of a society cannot be achieved if women are massively underprivileged, particularly in the employment sector, compared to their male counterparts.”
