#KZNisBurning: ANC attempts to downplay crisis by refusing urgent Legislature debate

15 July 2021

The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal is attending today’s scheduled provincial Legislature Sitting with reservations. This after our earlier urgent requests for a full debate on the current crisis within the province was denied.

Yesterday, the DA wrote to Legislature Whips Forum head, Super Zuma, to request a meeting to discuss programme changes to today’s Sitting. Regrettably, the meeting, which was held earlier this morning, saw our request refused.

The DA regards this decision as an attempt by the ANC to downplay the seriousness of the situation in KZN. We also view it as a direct attempt by the ANC to protect the KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala, who has shown massive leadership failure during the past few days.

Equally alarming is the decision by the ANC in the Legislature to conduct oversight visits across the province tomorrow, before committing to a full debate.

If the ANC cannot already see for themselves what has happened, then they must be blind.

If ever there was an example of the ANC being out of touch with what is happening in KZN, then this must be it. In stating that they want to conduct oversights before debating, they have effectively admitted this.

It is more clear than ever that there is a vacuum of leadership in KZN. Today is a lost opportunity for our province’s political leaders to debate tangible solutions to the current situation.

Despite the DA’s deep reservation, we are attending today’s Sitting in order to provide a voice to the people of KZN who deserve to be heard, now more than ever before.

Issued by Zwakele Mncwango, Chief Whip to the DA in the KZN Legislature, 15 July 2021