Chris Pappas visiting communities in uMzinyathi. Photo: Supplied

DA KwaZulu-Natal premier candidate Chris Pappas said he will not be taking up a seat in the provincial legislature.

Kzn premier - Figure 1
Photo Maritzburg Sun

Pappas, who is currently the Mayor of the uMngeni Municipality, said he would continue in his role as mayor of that council.

I have taken the decision to decline my seat in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.

“I will continue to serve as the mayor of the first DA majority led government in KwaZulu-Natal,” he said.

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Pappas’s ambition to become the province’s premier suffered a setback after the DA failed to get an outright majority in KZN during last month’s general elections.

Despite the DA’s failure to garner enough votes to govern the province, Pappas said he was humbled by the support he and the DA received from the province’s citizens.

I also want to thank the nearly 500 000 voters in KwaZulu-Natal for trusting the DA and myself with your vote. You have rescued KwaZulu-Natal. Without the campaign that we ran, the MK and EFF would surely have a 50% majority. Together we rescued our province.

“The DA in KZN is working hard to ensure that a stable coalition is formed to lead KZN forward. This coalition must consider the best interest of KwaZulu-Natal. Above all else the coalition must create jobs and grow the economy, build safe communities, bring water to every tap, root out corruption, and fix our broken healthcare and education systems,” he said.

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The DA was part of political parties which included the IFP, ANC and NFP which concluded a coalition agreement to co-govern the KwaZulu-Natal province.