Zikalala 'must hit the ground running'
New ANC provincial chairperson Sihle Zikalala will have to work hard to establish his authority in KwaZulu-Natal.
This is the view of political analyst Protas Madlala.
Zikalala was elected to lead the party in KZN at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg yesterday.
He removed Premier Senzo Mchunu from the post at the party's 8th Provincial Conference.
Madlala feels Zikalala will also have to focus on uniting the party by getting those in Mchunu’s camp to support him in the build up to next year’s local government elections.
''He has to oil the party machine for the next local government elections. He can't just rest, he can't even go on a honeymoon.
''He has to work on that urgently because the elections are around the corner,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Zikalala says creating unity within provincial party structures is exactly what he will focus on.
(Photo: Anelisa Kubheka)