Opposition political parties have reacted differently to the recent resignation and reassignment of former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala to the National Assembly. While some have remained unconcerned, others have attacked Zikalala for having little influence while serving as the provincial government.

Ramaphosa allies in KwaZulu-Natal fail to bring any wins in regional conferences – The Mail & GuardianBefore resigning as Premier in August 2021, Zikalala served as MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta). He was later appointed as the Cogta MEC and elected to the National Executive Committee of the ANC in December.

His redeployment has sparked speculation that he could be appointed as a minister in President Ramaphosa’s upcoming cabinet reshuffle.The provincial ANC has accepted Zikalala’s resignation and expressed confidence in his new deployment. The party believes that Zikalala will help advance the agenda of the National Democratic Revolution. However, the EFF and DA have expressed doubt about Zikalala’s impact during his time as Premier.

The EFF claims that his term was marked by a decline in governance, while the DA believes his move to the National Assembly was in line with the ANC’s standard practices of dispatching former premiers and MECs to the national Parliament.

Sihle Zikalala on Twitter: “Today, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa we joined VOLVO as they launched their skills development program https://t.co/WxHHKun78l” / TwitterThe IFP also criticized Zikalala’s performance as Premier, citing unsatisfactory reports from the Auditor General. All in all, opposition parties have called for the appointment of a capable individual to lead the Cogta department in KZN, as the region requires a steady hand to effectively manage its complex situations.