nomination as Premier of the province of KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Legislature
6 May 2009
Acting Judge, President Levnsohn
Acting Premier, Mike Mabuyakhulu
Members of the African National Congress (ANC)
Leaders of the opposition, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and other parties, the
Democratic Alliance (DA), Minority Front (MF), African Christian Democratic
Party (ACDP) and Cope
Members of the house
May I start by thanking the Acting Judge President for taking time off your
court schedule to preside over the first sitting of this house to elect the
Premier, Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
May I further congratulate all the members of this house for your election
as members. You members representing all the parties in this house are a
representation of the will of our people.
It is with great humility that I accept the nomination as Premier of
KwaZulu-Natal. I wish to thank members of the house for having the confidence
in nominating me to the position of leadership in our beautiful province. I
thank my party the African National Congress whose full support my nomination
represents.
More importantly, I wish to thank all the people of this province who have
voted and renewed their confidence and mandate in our government. Their
enthusiasm demonstrated in long patient queues meandering in different voting
stations recorded one of the highest voter turn outs in the history of our
democracy.
We pay tribute to our alliance partners who have helped us to achieve this
electoral victory we scored.
I wish to pay tribute to my predecessor, the former Premier Sibusiso
Ndebele. I wish to thank him for a job well done as the Premier of the
province. He conducted himself in a manner that bestowed dignity to the office
of the first citizen of our province. He leaves behind a catalogue of
achievements and a wonderful spirit of camaraderie amongst colleagues and
comrades. As we wish him well in his career, we commit to build on the
foundation he laid in his leadership and service delivery to achieve higher
levels of development for our people.
The fact that the ANC has appointed the second Premier in the province of
KwaZulu-Natal is a reflection of the growing level of confidence that people of
KwaZulu-Natal have for our party. We undertake to use the power and authority
bestowed by our people solely for their enlistment and realisation of a better
life for all our people.
These are huge responsibilities but with the support of members of the
legislature, our partners in the labour movements, business community and civil
society, as well as the citizens who came to the polls in great numbers to
reaffirm the mandate of this government, our duty will be made easier.
I thank you for your nomination, and I know that I can count on the support
of all members of this house as together we work on the governmentâs agenda and
priorities in the coming five years improving service delivery, fighting
poverty, unemployment, crime and corruption, promoting rural development, and
revamping our health and education systems. I look forward to a period of
robust debate, engaging on issues on governance and creating a better life for
all in our province.
May I in closing extend warm words of congratulations to His Excellency,
Jacob Zuma, for his election as President of South Africa today.
I thank you all.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
6 May 2009
Source: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kwazulunatal.gov.za)
