Nomusa Dube-Ncube is a South African politician and former diplomat who has been the 9th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal since August 2022. A member of the African National Congress, she is the first woman to hold the office.

Nomusa Dube-Ncube
Dube-Ncube in July 2022
9th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
Assumed office
10 August 2022
Preceded bySihle Zikalala
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance
In office
17 November 2020 – 10 August 2022
PremierSihle Zikalala
Preceded byRavi Pillay
Succeeded byPeggy Nkonyeni
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs
In office
27 May 2019 – 17 November 2020
PremierSihle Zikalala
Preceded bySipho Hlomuka
Succeeded byRavi Pillay
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
In office
29 July 2009 – 27 May 2019
PremierZweli Mkhize
Senzo Mchunu
Willies Mchunu
Preceded byWillies Mchunu
Succeeded bySipho Hlomuka
Personal details
NationalitySouth African
Political partyAfrican National Congress
SpouseSibusiso Ncube (Until 2022; his death)
ProfessionPolitician

Previously, she served as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from July 2009 to May 2019, as the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs from May 2019 until November 2020, and as the MEC for Finance from November 2020 until her appointment as premier in August 2022. Prior to serving in the legislature, she was South Africa's ambassador to the Czech Republic.

Early life edit

Born in KwaMashu, Dube-Ncube holds a master's degree in public administration.[1] She is currently completing her doctoral degree in the same field.[2] She also holds diplomas in public management, management and leadership as well as training and development.[3]

Political career edit

Dube-Ncube served as the mayor of the North Central council before it was merged into the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in 2000. She then served as chief whip of the eThekwini council until her appointment as ambassador to the Czech Republic.[4] She was elected to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature in May 2009 and the ANC appointed her as chief whip.[4] She held this position until July 2009, when premier Zweli Mkhize appointed her to the position of MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.[4] Senzo Mchunu was elected premier in 2013, and Mchunu reappointed her to her position. Dube-Ncube remained in the position following Willies Mchunu's election as premier in May 2016.[5]

In May 2019, she appointed MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs by the newly elected premier, Sihle Zikalala.[6] On 17 November 2020, Dube-Mncube was appointed MEC for Finance, replacing Ravi Pillay.[7]

In January 2022, The Mercury reported that Dube-Ncube was vying for the position of provincial chairperson of the ANC ahead of the party's provincial elective conference to be held by July 2022.[8] She had been endorsed by the provincial African National Congress Women's League.[9] At the conference on 23 July 2022, she qualified for nomination to contest the provincial chairperson position and was nominated from the floor, but she didn't meet the required 25% threshold of support from delegates to qualify for the voting ballot.[10]

Premiership edit

Following the resignation of premier Sihle Zikalala on 5 August 2022, Dube-Ncube was one of three candidates the provincial ANC recommended to replace Zikalala.[11] The following day, Dube-Ncube was interviewed by the members of the ANC's National Executive Committee for the position.[12] Dube-Ncube was announced as the party's preferred candidate for premier on 8 August 2022. On 10 August 2022, Dube-Ncube was elected as premier during a special sitting of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature in Mooi River. She defeated the DA's Mmabatho Tembe in a vote that went 45–11. She was sworn in by Acting Judge President Isaac Madondo later that day. Dube-Ncube is the first woman to serve as premier of the province.[13][14]

Personal life edit

Dube-Ncube was married to businessman Sibusiso Ncube until his death in January 2022.[15]

References edit

  1. ^ Singh, Kaveel. "I 'will not disappoint the people of KZN' - ANC's preferred premier candidate Dube-Ncube". News24. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  2. ^ Rall, Se-Anne. "Nomusa Dube-Ncube takes the helm as KZN's first woman premier". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. ^ Yende, Sizwe Sama. "10 things to know about Nomusa Dube-Ncube". Citypress. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "KwaZulu-Natal cabinet statement following its sitting in Pietermaritzburg". South African Government. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. ^ "KwaZulu-Natal premier sacks four MECs in cabinet reshuffle". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  6. ^ Harper, Paddy (27 May 2019). "Zikalala appoints youthful cabinet in KZN". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  7. ^ Duma, Nkosikhona (17 November 2020). "KZN Premier Zikalala reshuffles his Cabinet". EWN. Durban. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  8. ^ "MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube tipped for ANC KZN top post". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  9. ^ "KZN ANC elective conference: ANC Women's League officially nominates Nomusa Dube-Ncube to take on Sihle Zikalala". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  10. ^ Khumalo, Juniour. "Criminally charged Zandile Gumede, business tycoon Sandile Zungu fall out of ANC KZN leadership race". News24. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  11. ^ Hunter, Juniour Khumalo and Qaanitah. "UPDATE | Sihle Zikalala resigns, search for new KZN premier ramped up as ANC accepts decision". News24. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  12. ^ "ANC KZN nominates finance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube as Zikalala replacement". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  13. ^ Singh, Kaveel. "New KZN Premier Dube-Ncube vows to keep her 'finger on the pulse' of the province". News24. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  14. ^ Mabaso, Nhlanhla. "Nomusa Dube-Ncube voted in as KZN's first female premier". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  15. ^ Reporter, Witness. "KZN MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube's husband dies". Witness. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

External links edit