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ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Senzo Mchunu has been elected as premier by the KwaZulu-Natal legislature. 

Mchunu, the outgoing education MEC, was nominated by his rival, Willies Mchunu, for the chairperson’s post. Willies Mchunu is his ANC deputy and MEC for transport and public safety.

Mchunu’s nomination was seconded by the province’s cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC, Nomusa Dube, who was herself one of the ANC leaders hoping to get the nod for the plum post.

The IFP nominated their legislature head, Blessed Gwala, as premier, while the DA’s Sizwe Mchunu also stood.

Senzo Mchunu was elected with 50 votes to Gwala’s 14 and Mchunu’s seven by secret ballot among the legislature’s 81 members.

The remainder abstained. There were no spoilt ballots.

The premier’s post was left vacant with the movement of Zweli Mkhize to Luthuli House to take up the ANC treasurer’s position to which he was elected at the ANC national conference in Mangaung in December.

Mchunu, a former educator from Melmoth in the north of the province, has served as education MEC since 2004.