Mchunu's absence fuels fears of his axing

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu's absence at the national prayer day event in Durban on Sunday has fuelled rumours that he is on his way out of the province's most powerful office on Monday.

Mchunu apparently went gone to ground amid news of his axing.

However, his spokesman Ndabezinhle Sibiya, on Sunday said Mchunu had to attend another engagement therefore he asked Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Willies Mchunu to step in for him at the event where President Jacob Zuma and religious leaders are to pray for rain, peaceful local elections and national unity.

According to the programme, the premier was expected to deliver the welcome remarks.

"He asked MEC Willies Mchunu to represent him. The premier has another engagement and is apologetic that he is unable to attend," Sibiya said.

Rumours of impending cabinet changes have refused to go away since the ANC’s new provincial executive committee (PEC) was elected late last year. It has long been speculated that Mchunu — who lost his head-to-head battle with Sihle Zikalala for the coveted position of chairman at the elective conference in November — is among those facing the axe.

The axe is also apparently set to fall on other senior members of the provincial cabinet including: education MEC Peggy Nkonyeni‚ economic development MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu‚ agriculture MEC Cyril Xaba‚ finance MEC Belinda Scott‚ and sports‚ arts and culture MEC Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha.