Durban – KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli will remain in office after a motion of no confidence brought by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party failed in an open ballot held in the provincial legislature on Monday.
KZN Speaker Nontembeko Boyce announced the result, confirming that Ntuli would continue as premier. “The motion has failed. Honourable Ntuli remains the premier. The house is adjourned,” she said.
The MK Party and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) had requested a secret ballot, claiming some members faced threats and could not vote freely in an open vote. Boyce rejected the request, prompting members of both parties to sing protest songs and delay proceedings. Police were called to restore order after some MK Party members resisted, shouting, “Guns are not allowed in the house,” leading to a temporary suspension of the session.
The motion needed at least 41 votes to pass in the 80-member legislature. According to Dean Macpherson, DA provincial chairperson, the vote ended 40-39 in favour of keeping Ntuli, with the IFP-ANC-DA-NFP coalition defeating the MK-EFF motion.
The MK Party had sought to remove Ntuli, citing an underperforming administration, corruption, and financial mismanagement, despite having won the largest share of votes in last year’s provincial elections.
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