By Johnathan Paoli
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has dismissed the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK)’s renewed push to remove him from office as political gamesmanship, warning that the motion of no confidence threatens to undermine stability within the province’s fledgling Government of Provincial Unity (GPU).
MKP chief whip, Bonginkosi Mngadi, this week formally notified KZN Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce of his party’s intention to table a fresh no-confidence motion against the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) premier at the next sitting, citing financial mismanagement, deteriorating service delivery and what it calls a collapsing coalition government.
“Honourable speaker, I, BC Mngadi, on behalf of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, give notice in terms of Section 141, sub-section 2 of the constitution and rules 103, 105, and 106 of the standing rules of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature of my intention to move a motion of no confidence in honourable Thamsanqa Arthur Ntuli,” the chief whip wrote.
The latest move escalates a year-long confrontation between the province’s largest party and Ntuli, who governs through a multiparty coalition of the IFP, African National Congress, Democratic Alliance (DA) and National Freedom Party.
Speaking to journalists at a cabinet community programme in KwaNdengezi, west of Durban on Wednesday, Ntuli said the MKP had been targeting him since his appointment in June 2024 and was now attempting to destabilise the province ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
“Right from the beginning they said this premier would not last three months. After three months, they said six months. After a year, they bring a vote of no confidence. What else can you expect from the MK Party? They are playing politics, and it’s very unfortunate for the people of KZN to have such leaders,” Ntuli said.
He insisted the coalition remained functional and that investor confidence had improved under his administration.
The motion, submitted by MKP MPL Phathisizwe Chiliza and later reinforced by the party’s chief whip, Bonginkosi Mngadi, alleges that Ntuli misled the legislature about an August trip to New York, failed to address unemployment and poverty, and presided over what the party claims is widening financial mismanagement across key departments.
Mngadi also demanded that the vote be conducted via secret ballot to free members from political pressure and ensure an unbiased outcome.
The Speaker has yet to decide on the ballot format or set a date for the debate.
The MKP, holding 37 of the legislature’s 80 seats, remains short of a majority and needs support from the ANC, NFP, Economic Freedom Fighters or disaffected IFP members to succeed.
However, the party’s hopes of forming an alternative government might suffer a significant blow following the Economic Freedom Fighters declaring that, while they would participate in the debate, they would abstain from voting.
EFF spokesperson Chris Msibi said the party “will not support anything that comes from the MKP”, referencing deteriorating relations between the two since the MKP recruited several former EFF leaders after the 2024 elections.
The EFF’s stance effectively removes one of the MKP’s potential kingmakers and further narrows the path to reaching the numbers required to unseat Ntuli.
The MK Party’s task is further complicated by improving relations between the IFP and ANC within the GPU, making cross-party defections improbable.
The previous MKP motion, filed in October, was dismissed on procedural grounds; the party is now banking on dissent from ANC and NFP members, particularly if the Speaker allows a secret vote.
But both the ANC and IFP have recently reaffirmed their cooperation, and the DA, another coalition partner, has urged the Premier and MECs to urgently stabilise departments following a scathing Auditor-General report.
While the DA has raised serious concerns about governance failures, including declining clean audit outcomes and rising irregular expenditure, it has not indicated any intention to withdraw support for Ntuli.
Inside Metros reached out to DA KZN leader Francois Rodgers, who confirmed that his party would not be supporting the motion.
“We will not support this non-starter Motion of No Confidence. It comes from a party with absolutely no history in government. It lacks validity,” he said.
All eyes now turn to Speaker Boyce, who must decide whether the motion meets procedural requirements and whether Thursday’s vote, if granted, will be open or secret.
INSIDE METROS