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No surprises in ANC polls list for KZN

LEADING LIGHTS: KwaZulu-Natal ANC leader Zweli Mkhize, left, and provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu at the announcement of their party list in Durban yesterday. Circa 02/2009. © Sowetan. Pic. Mhlaba Memela.
LEADING LIGHTS: KwaZulu-Natal ANC leader Zweli Mkhize, left, and provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu at the announcement of their party list in Durban yesterday. Circa 02/2009. © Sowetan. Pic. Mhlaba Memela.

Canaan Mdletshe

Canaan Mdletshe

There were no surprises as the KwaZulu-Natal region of the ANC released its final list of candidates yesterday.

As expected, provincial chairperson Zweli Mkhize tops the list and is certain to become the premier.

Other names on the list of 80 include education MEC Ina Cronje (2), provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu (3), health MEC Peggy Nkonyeni (4), Willies Mchunu (5), Lydia Johnson (6), Bheki Cele (7), Weziwe Thusi (8), Mike Mabuyakhulu (9) and Belinda Scott (10).

The ANC said though the list was final this did not mean it indicated who was likely to be in the provincial cabinet.

Mchunu's position as secretary would therefore depend on whether he was deployed to the legislature.

This is because his is a fulltime job based at the party's provincial office.

The surprise inclusion is popular eThekwini Community Church pastor Vusi Dube, who is no 53. Current premier Sbu Ndebele and deputy speaker Gabriel Ndabandaba are among the 40 members that are headed for the national Parliament.

Mkhize said: "The process was marked by unity among our members. There were serious consultations among the members and this list demonstrates a democratic process."

He also reiterated that Ndebele's name was absent from the list because he "was voted onto the national list and he is number 31 on that list".

Meanwhile, the ANC is intensifying its election campaign in KwaZulu-Natal in an attempt to convincingly win the province.

The party's top brass will flock to the province, conducting door-to-door visits and holding rallies in different parts of the province, concentrating on areas formerly known to be IFP strongholds.

KwaZulu-Natal remains a heavily contested province in the country, with the IFP doing all in its power to reclaim it.

The party will hold a rally in Mtubatuba tomorrow , followed by an election campaign in Chatsworth to be addressed by party president Jacob Zuma.

The rallies will be followed by visits by party deputy president and current President, Kgalema Motlanthe will visit KwaDukuza for a door-to-door campaign and address community meetings.

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