Up-close and personal with KZN first lady

The first thing that strikes you about the Mayor of uThungulu District Municipality, Cllr Thembeka Vuyisile Buyisile Mchunu, is her immaculate sense of dress and her soft manner, which gives no hint of the underlying strength she possesses.

A dynamo, Thembeka Mchunu (umaMofokeng) is a woman of many parts.

She combines all of her duties as a mother, wife and a political leader with distinction.

In her interview with the Zululand Observer, Mchunu spoke glowingly of her love for politics and family.

Born in rural Ixobho, Mchunu is the first born of a family of two.

Her brother Thabo Mofokeng works as a spokesperson for eThekwini Municipality.

After matriculating at Laduma High School in Pietermaritzburg, she enrolled at Umbumbulu College of Education for a diploma in education, and began her teaching career in 1990 in Zululand.

Interestingly, this is the same year she and her high school sweetheart, the man who was later to become the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Senzo Mchunu, tied the knot.

But she is quick to point out that she is a political leader in her own right and her marriage to the Premier is just coincidental.

‘I never anticipated that one day I would become the mayor, but growing up in a highly charged political environmnent in Pietermaritzburg, such a move in my life was always going to be a possibility.

‘My love for politics began at en early age, while staying with my mother and grandfather who was passionate about politics and the news in general.

‘Also at high school there was this teacher, Mr Mtshali, who had come from Gauteng. He used to teach us about the June 16 events leading up to the students uprisings in Soweto. Those things were very touching to us as students,’ she recalls.

Mchunu taught at various schools in Zululand between 1990 until 2006, when she became a full-time Councillor at uThungulu District Municipality. Before, she was an ANC activist and served in many capacities, including serving as a Regional Secretary for the ANC Women’s League.

A born again Christian, Mchunu is grateful to God, who has been her protector throughout her life and in tough times.

‘I still cannot believe how we survived when we were attacked while staying in Ngwelezane during the political violence. Our house was riddled with AK 47 bullets, but we survived together with our kids, who did not know what was happening.

Water shortages

Since becoming the mayor of uThungulu in 2011, Mchunu feels she has delivered, despite enormous challenges faced by the district.

‘I can safely say we have covered hundreds of kilometres in water pipelines, built thousands of toilets and changed the lives of almost a million people. About 60 % of our people now have clean drinking water in their houses.

‘Since we took over the district, we have increased the pace of service delivery and achieved the district’s first clean audit from the Auditor-General for 2012/2013 financial year.

‘While water provision remains our biggest challenge, we have made strides in addressing the issue with the opening of Middledrift Water Scheme which is between Nkandla and uMlalazi.

‘We also have Phobane Dam which should supply comminuties of Mthonjaneni, Ntambanana and part of uMlalazi. Water shortages in our district is one challenge we are determined to overcome.’

‘With regard to job creation, we have created an environment conducive for investments in our district, and this is bearing fruit. The establishment of the District Fresh Produce Market and the roll-out of biogas in rural areas bear testimony to this.’

Mchunu has also rejected calls made by opposition parties who have called for her resignation as mayor now that she is the province’s First Lady.

‘I think opposition parties are just playing politics.’