MK Party pushes no-confidence vote as it plots path to take control of KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli’s future hangs in balance ahead of a motion of no confidence tabled against him by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party.
Image: Supplied
Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party will test its claim to govern KwaZulu-Natal on Monday when the provincial legislature votes on a motion of no confidence against KZN premier Thami Ntuli.
The motion, tabled by the former President’s MK Party, will be debated and voted on in the 80-member KwaZulu-Natal legislature on Monday, December 15.
To succeed, it requires at least 41 votes. However, based on information available, the MK Party currently has the backing of 40 members, leaving the outcome hanging in the balance.
The MK Party said it brought the motion because it believes Ntuli is presiding over an underperforming government of provincial unity (GPU), which it has accused of corruption and financial mismanagement.
The current GPU comprises the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA) and National Freedom Party (NFP).
Together, they hold a narrow majority of 41 seats.
The coalition was formed after last year’s general elections failed to produce an outright winner in the province.
Since its formation, the MK Party has repeatedly called for the GPU to be removed.
Although it holds 37 seats - the highest number for any single party - it fell short of an outright majority.
The party secured more than 40% of the provincial vote and argues that this gives it a legitimate mandate to govern KwaZulu-Natal.
The MK Party is seeking support from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the NFP to unseat Ntuli and take control of the province.
The EFF has already confirmed it will back the motion of no confidence.
EFF leader Julius Malema said last week that his party would support any motion that made political sense, regardless of who tabled it.
His comments shocked many, given Malema’s previous description of the MK Party as the EFF’s “enemy number one”.
“There is a motion on the table. Irrespective of who put that motion forward, if it makes sense to the EFF, we are supporting it,” the Red Berets leader said.
He pointed to the EFF’s past support for a Democratic Alliance-led motion of no confidence against Zuma in Parliament as precedent.
In October, the MK Party signalled its intention to enter into agreements with third parties, excluding the IFP.
If the motion succeeds, KZN could be forced into an early election, potentially paving the way for a new governing coalition made up of the MK Party, the EFF and the NFP - excluding both the ANC and the IFP.
Malema said the MK Party should immediately begin negotiations if it was serious about taking over the province.
“If they are serious about that motion, Zuma must be part of the negotiation right from tonight,” he said.
“Over the weekend, we are going to speak even to the ANC.”
Malema added that if the ANC refused formal engagement, the EFF would approach individual members of the legislature to “speak to their conscience”.
The MK Party has 37 seats, the EFF two and the NFP one, giving them 40 seats combined - one short of the 41 needed to pass the motion.
The IFP holds 15 seats, the ANC 14 and the DA 11.
The ANC, weakened by its reduced representation, has been forced into the GPU with the IFP and DA and is understood to be under instructions from its provincial leadership to continue supporting the coalition.
Meanwhile, the MK Party has called on thousands of its supporters to march to the provincial legislature as part of what it describes as a pressure campaign to “reclaim” the leadership of KwaZulu-Natal.
The DA and the IFP have also said their supporters will be present in large numbers to oppose the motion.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL Politics