‘No confidence, no peace’ – MKP promises fresh attack on Ntuli

Thami Ntuli

Cape Town – The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) says it will forge ahead with a fresh attempt to remove KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli, just days after its initial motion of no confidence was defeated in the provincial legislature.

The provincial government of unity (GPU), led by the Inkatha Freedom Party’s Ntuli, survived the latest challenge on Monday, 15 December 2025, but the MK Party says its fight is far from over. 

The first motion, tabled by the MKP and backed by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), descended into disorder as legislators clashed in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature.

Speaker Nontembeko Boyce ruled against using a secret ballot — a procedural point MKP insisted was necessary amid claims of safety threats to its members — prompting protests and disruptions that ultimately led to the motion being declared failed after an open vote.

MKP’s head of the presidency, Makasela Mzobe, told SABC News the party would keep pushing for change, citing the province’s volatile political climate.

“I’m saying to you, KZN political killing is not our imagination, it’s a reality and we’re on the eve of what will seem like a highly contested local government election,” Mzobe said, defending the push for another motion against Ntuli’s leadership.

The motion of no confidence was rooted in the MK Party’s long-standing contention that, having won the highest share of votes in the 2024 KwaZulu-Natal provincial election, it has a mandate to lead the province. Although the MKP secured the most seats (37 out of 80), it fell short of a majority and did not form part of the GPU coalition that now includes the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP. The MKP has repeatedly criticised the coalition for underperformance, corruption and failing to reflect the electorate’s will.

Amid the legislative turmoil, the MK Party and its spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela argued that the process lacked legitimacy and threatened to challenge the outcome.

“The motion failed, but the fight continues,” Ndhlela said, signalling legal and parliamentary avenues would be explored to contest the open ballot outcome.

Ntuli and his allies in the GPU, however, have pushed back. Ntuli himself dismissed the no-confidence move as politically motivated and insisted the government was delivering improvements in service delivery and governance.

“This government is working quite well… I see no reason that this government… cannot survive future motions,” he told reporters, rejecting claims that stability had been lost.

The fractious session and plans for a renewed no-confidence bid underscore deepening political tensions in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the 2026 local government elections, with analysts warning the drama could reshape alliances and voter perceptions in one of South Africa’s most contested provinces.

Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram

Picture: X/@CadreNguyi

For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com

Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele

Article written by