DA considers criminal charges after MK Party's unruly behaviour in KZN Legislature

The DA through its chief whip is considering whether to lay criminal charges after MK Party Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) became unruly when their motion of no confidence against KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli failed on Monday.

The MK Party had demanded a secret ballot, stating that their members had been threatened however the Speaker Nontembeko Boyce denied this request. The MK Party members then began singing in the House and delaying proceedings.

When calm was restored, the vote was conducted via an open ballot. Boyce then announced that the motion had failed with the IFP-ANC-DA-NFP coalition defeating the MK-EFF motion of no confidence 40 to 39 votes, matters escalated in the House. Eventually the police had to be called in to remove unruly members.

It was reported by IOL that one MK Party MPL was injured in the scuffle.

DA KZN leader Francois Rodgers said the MK Party attempted to create chaos and anarchy in the House.

“After realising that their motion to destabilise the governance of KZN was not going to be successful just like we had warned them, the MKP Members of the Legislature decided to become violent and disrupt the proceedings to halt the vote by the members.

“The DA notes with grave concerns some gestures and outbursts by some of the MKP members during the debate where in some stages they indicated or shouted that some members that intended to vote against the motion will be ‘destroyed’.”

He added that the Speaker of the Legislature had what seemed to be a water bottle thrown at her.

“The constant stomping and banging of the legislature furniture was nothing but a fruitless act to intimidate the members of the legislature. The DA through its chief whip will explore options to lay criminal charges (as) both the Speaker and Legislature secretary were assaulted when the house was adjourned.”

 Mkhuleko Hlengwa, IFP national spokesperson said the party condemned the conduct of the MKP during the proceedings.

“The violent, aggressive, and intimidatory behaviour displayed is unacceptable in a democratic legislature and represents a direct assault on the principles of constitutional democracy, accountability, and respect for institutions of governance.

“In particular, the IFP condemns in the strongest terms the manner in which the Speaker of the Legislature was treated. Political disagreement must never be pursued through threats, violence, or misogynistic conduct.”

In its statement on the matter, the MK Party said it rejected the process and purported outcome of the Legislature sitting.

It said their reasonable request for a secret ballot had been denied despite credible death threats against MPLs.

“The commotion that followed was not gratuitous disorder. It was the direct and legitimate consequence of a refusal to protect members and to uphold Constitutional safeguards.”

It added that there was no valid vote as MK Party members and EFF members were not seated and did not vote.

“We will pursue all political, parliamentary and legal avenues to challenge the Speaker's conduct,” the MK Party statement said.

THE MERCURY