Lesufi sworn in as new premier of Gauteng

Lesufi, who is the ANC chairperson in the province, was elected at a special sitting in the provincial legislature on Thursday.

He succeeds David Makhura as the premier of the country's economic hub.

Makhura served as premier for eight years before handing in his resignation on Tuesday.

"I am taking over the reins from one of the humblest servants of our province," Lesufi said in his acceptance speech.  

"I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Makhura. He led from the front and remains a hard act to follow. I want to put it on record that he has been the driving force of this leadership change in our province.

"I want to take this opportunity to affirm one thing, I am just a last servant that must conclude the last part of our administration that was led by our dynamic former premier David Makhura," he added.

Lesufi told a media briefing shortly after his election that the high levels of crime in the province is at the top of his agenda.

"There are three things that, if we can't tackle them head-on, we must forget. One is to protect our economic position as Gauteng. But two, which I really think its going to be non-negotiable and it's going to create enemies, it is the fight against crime, the fight against lawlessness and the fight against corruption.

"When we tackle those, you will understand why we say there are no holy cows," said Lesufi.