Premier Thami Ntuli condemns chaotic scenes in KZN Legislature
Premier Thami Ntuli of KwaZulu-Natal
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KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has spoken out on the chaos that unfolded in the provincial legislature on Monday, stating that it had the potential to undermine investment and remind the public of the July 2021 unrest that damaged the economy and left people dead.
The unrest was allegedly triggered after MK Party leader and former president Jacob Zuma had been sentenced to prison by the Constitutional Court for defying its orders.
Chaotic scenes unfolded at the legislature on Monday after a motion of no confidence brought by the MK Party against Ntuli failed. Scenes turned ugly after the MK Party demanded that the vote on the motion be carried out as a secret ballot, a request that was declined by the Speaker of the Legislature, Nontembeko Boyce. There was shoving and pushing inside the legislature.
“The chaos and the violence that took place in the house is unfortunate. You will remember that we are coming from a looting period, and you know 'who' is related to the looting period. We are seeing who (Duduzile Zuma) is going to court over the looting, and they (MKP members) have brought that culture to the house. In no way should a Speaker be treated the way she was treated,” said Ntuli.
“It is unfortunate to see that happening. We are making a call to the people (MKP) that this is not the right route to take, even if there is a disagreement. There is no need to resort to chaos and violence. What is important is that we engage so we have a peaceful and stable province.”
The Premier said unity after the sitting was important, adding that the focus of the provincial government should be on bringing stability, service delivery, and working to turn around the challenges that the people of KwaZulu-Natal are faced with.
Ntuli was speaking in an interview on Tuesday morning, stating, “Whether you are from the opposition side or the governing side, we are all leaders elected by the people. People do not separate opposition from government; they want all leaders to serve the people.”
He said the claims by the MK Party that as the party with the most votes, they had a right to form the government were dishonest, as the party did not get the simple majority required to be the outright winner. When the time came to discuss a coalition, the MK Party was nowhere to be found, he said.
“We could not delay the people of the province to form a government because when there is no government, there is no service delivery,” said the Premier.