Nomusa Dube-Ncube, the incoming premier of KwaZulu-Natal, was sworn in as the province’s first female premier on Wednesday at a special session of the legislature.
Sihle Zikalala, who resigned as provincial Premier last week, is replaced by Dube-Ncube, who was the MEC in charge of the Finance department.
Speaking at the swearing-in event, Dube-Ncube reaffirmed that the Premier’s office will continue to carry out the tasks assigned to it and uphold the duty of an honest and compassionate administration.
She said that she wanted those working for the government to embody and exhibit Batho Pele’s ideals.
“We will also cooperate with Chapter 9 Institutions, such as the Human Rights Commission, Public Protector, Auditor-General, and the public service, to guarantee openness, accountability, and good governance in all areas of government.
By giving regular citizens a voice, we want to strengthen our democracy, the new premier said.
She also emphasised how crucial it was to keep the transition from the previous leadership going smoothly.
“Today, the whole nation is rejoicing here. In order to guarantee that we maintain our government, it will be a representation of democracy operating with… [maturity], according to Dube-Ncube.
Dube-Ncube also praised Sihle Zikalala, her predecessor, for the wonderful deeds he had carried out for the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
“We are going to maintain that,” Dube-Ncube said.
“You have left a library of accomplishment and a lovely culture of camaraderie among the colleagues and political parties.
Making history in KZN
Dube-Ncube stated in response to becoming KwaZulu-first Natal’s female premier that women don’t take making history for granted.
The whole nation is celebrating the ANC’s (African National Congress) intentional choice to guarantee that the sixth premier running for office is a woman, according to Dube-Ncube.
She declared that set-asides for women, young people, and persons with disabilities in certain sectors would continue to be implemented with steadfastness in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Former Premier Zikalala stressed that women and youth must be at the centre of KwaZulu-economic Natal’s recovery and transformation plan when he gave the State of the Province Address in February 2022.
In this respect, Dube-Ncube said that the province committed to ensuring that, during the subsequent Operation Vula Funding window, at least 50% of the funding will go to women-owned businesses with the potential to create jobs.
We aim to increase the opportunities for economic empowerment of black women and black youth in KwaZulu-Natal through our successful implementation of export-led growth, the Black Industrialist Programme, the KZN Youth Empowerment Fund initiative, and the Radical Socio-Economic Transformation (RASET).
“By 2024, at least 50% of public procurement should go to women-owned firms,” Dube-Ncube said.
“We are committed to pursue our objective of mainstreaming gender equality.”