KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN’s) first woman Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube announced her new Provincial Executive Council on Thursday, a day after her election.

Former Premier Sihle Zikalala has been appointed Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC while the new African National Congress (ANC) chairperson in KZN, Sboniso Duma, replaces Ravi Pillay as Economic Development and Tourism MEC.

The Health MEC remains Nomagugu Simelane, Social Development MEC is Nonhlanhla Khoza, Human Settlements and Public Works MEC is Dr Nkululeko Ntuthuko Mahlaba and Peggy Nkonyeni is Finance MEC.

Dube-Ncube appointed Bongi Sithole-Moloi as Agriculture and Rural Development MEC; Sipho Hlomuka as Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC; Mbali Frazer is Education MEC; and Amanda Mapena is the new Sports, Arts and Culture MEC.

Addressing the media in Durban, Dube-Ncube said the province would fast-track issues relating to the revival of the provincial economy and relating to the creation of jobs.

She said her council was fully aware that the country and the province were facing serious economic challenges and that they would work collectively to improve the lives of the people in KZN and to improve the economic condition of the province.

Issues for her council to focus on included poverty alleviation, inequity in the economy and the unlocking of radical transformation programmes across the province.

She thanked the former Premier and outgoing MECs for their contributions towards creating a stronger province, socially and economically.

“We will do our ultimate best to ensure that all our public servants remain motivated. We also appreciate them as engines of change and central to the efforts that are aimed at ensuring solid service delivery. A government that is capable, effective and efficient will have to find models of ensuring that this is realised,” said Dube-Ncube.