DA backs KZN Premier Thami Ntuli amid MKP no-confidence motion
KZN Premier Thami Ntuli breath has received the backing of GPU partners ahead of a motion of no confidence against him.
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The chances of embattled KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli surviving an Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) sponsored motion of no confidence have been boosted by the backing of the DA.
The motion against Ntuli will be debated and voted for in two weeks time in the provincial legislature.
In a statement issued by the DA after its special meeting of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) on Tuesday, the party rejected the motion and guaranteed Ntuli of its support. The party had specifically met to discuss the MKP motion.
“The PEC has resolved unanimously to reject the motion as it is an attempt by the MKP to create chaos and instability in the province. Furthermore, the PEC has recognised the immense work that the DA has achieved through our MEC’s, Francois Rodgers and Martin Meyer who have been on a drive to accelerate service delivery to the residents of KZN,” read the statement.
However, the party warned Ntuli that its support for him was not without limits and called for an accelerated program of service delivery focusing on economic growth and job creation. The party stated that it will intensify the fight against crime, eliminating corruption, as well as reducing fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Ntuli’s premiership has also been guaranteed by both the ANC and the NFP’s sole member of the legislature, Mbali Shinga. The ANC resolved in its provincial general council at the weekend that it will not support the motion. The ANC’s position was also influenced by its recent agreement with the IFP in Umkhanyakude District Municipality, which saw the ANC returning to power.
Shinga who is also Social Development MEC assured Ntuli that despite her party bosses’ position and threat against her, she would stand by the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) of which she is a member. Her party has instructed her to support the MKP motion.
The MKP filed the motion last month, however, it had to be resuscitated last week after the legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce had cited some unprocedural aspects.
In a sitting of the legislature last week, Boyce finally approved the MKP’s long awaited motion and announced that it will be tabled on December 15. She also announced that it will be held virtually.
In the 80-seat chamber, the GPU is made up of 41 seats with the IFP (15), ANC (14), DA (11), NFP (1) and the MKP (37) and EFF (2).