KwaZulu-Natal's political future hangs in balance: No-confidence motion against Ntuli set for December

The Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP)’s motion of no confidence against  KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has been finally approved and will be voted on in two weeks time.

MKP filed the motion early last month, however, it had to be resuscitated on Tuesday after the Speaker had cited some unprocedural aspects of it.

In a sitting of the legislature on Thursday, Boyce announced that the motion has been approved and will be tabled on December 15. She also announced that it will be virtual.

She dashed all hopes that the motion could be debated and voted on Thursday, saying it was going to be unfair to other parties. 

“While I recognize the need for the Legislature to ensure that the motion is scheduled within a reasonable timeframe and without unnecessary delay, the setting of the debate for today, a mere 48 hours after the motion has been introduced in the House, is wholly unreasonable and unfair to parties.

“I therefore advise that the legislature will follow its accepted internal processes and will schedule the matter for debate within a reasonable time. Having considered all these processes, I therefore announce that the debate and voting on the MK motion will take place on Monday, 15 December 2025,” said Boyce.

As it was expected the NFP national executive committee (NEC) has announced its full support for the motion and has directed its sole member of Legislature Mbali Shinga to support it. Acting Secretary-General Sunset Xaba said the NEC met on Wednesday and resolved to back the motion.

He said he subsequently wrote to Shinga and the deployment committee to inform them about the party’s position. Xaba issued a stern warning to her to toe the party’s line or face consequences.

Shinga had previously stated that the position on whether to support the motion had not been discussed with her as a chairperson of the province. She stated that the seat she occupies belongs to the province. At the time of the publication she was still locked in the legislature sitting and the attempts to reach her were unsuccessful.

With its sole seat, the Government of Provincial Unity’s future is in the NFP hands. If Shinga decides to toe the party line and EFF supports the motion the GPU parties and the opposition will tie at 40-40. Although this will not remove Ntuli from power, it will create unwanted instability as GPU parties will be unable to pass budgets.

With IFP and ANC appearing to have resolved their differences particularly in Umkhanyakude, Ntuli seems to be guaranteed of the ANC vote. The DA is expected to back Ntuli because of their cordial relationship. The party has in the past made it clear that under no circumstances will it work with the MKP and EFF.

EFF provincial spokesperson, Chris Msibi said his party is still negotiating with the MKP and no agreement has been reached. He stated that his party's demands are that any party that wants its support should accept the seven cardinal pillars which include expropriation of land without compensation.

“We have been approached by the MKP, however, no agreement has been reached,” said Msibi

In the 80-seat chamber, the GPU is made up of 41 seats from the IFP (15), ANC(14), DA (11), NFP (1) against the MKP (37) and EFF (2).

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