Image of

FORMER Bhisho legislature speaker Noxolo Kiviet will be sworn in as premier of the Eastern Cape this morning.

She is due to announce her executive council this afternoon after a number of meetings of the ANC‘s provincial executive as the party sought to hammer out agreement on its MECs.

Kiviet, who has served in the legislature since 1997, the last five years as speaker, will be the province‘s fifth premier. Before that the premier-designate was involved with the trade union movement.

This morning the 63 MPLs – 44 from the ANC, nine from the Congress of the People, six from the DA, three from the UDM and one from the African Independent Party – will be sworn in, after which the election for premier will take place.

Eastern Cape Judge President Cecil Somyalo will preside over the swearing- in, as well as the election of the premier, the speaker and the deputy speaker.

Each political party will have an opportunity to speak, after which Kiviet is expected to make her first speech as premier.

Meanwhile the DA announced yesterday that Bobby Stevenson would lead the party in the Bhisho legislature.

Athol Trollip, who will be sworn in as an MP in Cape Town today, remains provincial leader. Pine Pienaar will serve as chief whip and Veliswa Mvenya as caucus chairman.