Pietermaritzburg, 15 December 2025 — Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli successfully weathered a motion of no confidence brought against him by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) at the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature today, maintaining his position as head of the provincial government despite dramatic disruptions in the chamber.
The motion, tabled by the MKP and debated at a sitting of the Legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Monday, 15 December 2025, did not secure the necessary support to unseat Premier Ntuli. Heated scenes unfolded as members of the MKP protested proceedings moments after Speaker Nontembeko Boyce ruled that the vote would be conducted openly rather than through a secret ballot. Reportedly, disorderly conduct and chants briefly stalled proceedings before the vote was concluded.
Premier Ntuli condemned the behaviour of the MKP members who disrupted the sitting, saying it was regrettable that those who initiated the motion had sought to undermine the legislative process itself.
The vote against Ntuli followed several weeks of political maneuvering in the province. The MKP, which emerged from the 2024 provincial election with the largest single party representation in the 80-member legislature, lodged the no-confidence motion citing concerns over governance and provincial performance.
Despite the MKP holding a strong opposition presence, Ntuli’s position was bolstered by continued support from key Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) partners, including the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)—his own party—the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA). In the lead-up to the vote, the DA publicly affirmed its support for Ntuli, denouncing the motion as destabilising.
Ntuli, who has served as Premier since June 2024 following the 2024 provincial election, retains the confidence of the GPU, which together holds a working majority in the legislature. The political coalition has weathered tensions around service delivery, governance priorities, and policy direction since its formation.
Today’s outcome ensures Premier Ntuli will continue to lead KwaZulu-Natal’s executive through the current term, with GPU parties indicating a focus on stability and governance in the period ahead.