Panyaza Lesufi elected Gauteng’s new Premier

Former Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi is now Gauteng's new Premier, taking over from David Makhura, who resigned earlier this week

Oct 6, 2022 - 16:28
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Panyaza Lesufi elected Gauteng’s new Premier

Gauteng has a new premier, in the form of Panyaza Lesufi, who was the province’s MEC for Education until just recently. Lesufi was elected during a special sitting of the legislature on Thursday, 6 October 2022.

Lesufi’s rise to the premiership follows David Makhura’s resignation on Tuesday. Makhura is leaving Gauteng politics after 22 years – eight of them being as premier.

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LESUFI BEATS MSIMANGA FOR GAUTENG PREMIERSHIP

New Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi went up against the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Solly Msimanga and beat him by 16 votes. Lesufi bagged 38 votes for the coveted seat, while Msimanga only got 22. A total of 60 votes were cast and 13 members of the legislature did not participate in the vote.

Lesufi, who was elected the African National Congress (ANC) Chairperson in Gauteng during the 14th provincial elective conference, expressed his gratitude to his party for picking him to take over the from Makhura.

“This movement is a glorious movement but has gone through difficulties, pain and insults and for it to say among all of us we think you’re the right person to represent us. I accept that with humility and accept it with an open mind and open hands. This is not a celebration but rather serves as a reminder that we need to do work,” Lesufi told reporters at a press briefing held by the ANC’s provincial executive committee just a day before.

Solly Msimanga
DA Gauteng interim leader Solly Msimanga. Photo: Twitter