With just days remaining before the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature votes on the MK Party caucus’ motion of no confidence in Premier Thami Ntuli, the party has so far failed to secure backing from any other political party — including its former ally, the EFF.
The MK Party, which controls 37 of the Legislature’s 80 seats, needs at least four MPLs from other parties to approve its motion.
While the EFF supported the MK Party last June in opposing Ntuli’s election as premier, the red berets are now reluctant to back the motion.
The relationship between the two parties, forged shortly after last year’s general elections under what was described as a “progressive caucus”, collapsed when the MK Party began recruiting EFF leaders, including former deputy president Floyd Shivambu.
Sources within the MK Party said the EFF national leadership doubted the motion’s chances of success.
If you look at the numbers, it would be difficult for the motion to yield anything.
“They have been trying to persuade the EFF national leadership to get our MPLs to vote with them, but I don’t think they are succeeding,” said one source.
What’s the point of promises of government portfolios if the chances of collapsing the GPU (government of provincial unity) are nonexistent? It is likely that the two EFF MPLs will not participate in the vote.
EFF provincial spokesperson Chris Mnisi confirmed that the party’s national leadership has not yet given its KZN MPLs the green light.
“The EFF national leadership is still reviewing the matter. As a province, we haven’t received any mandate to support the MK Party motion,” he said.
The MK Party motion has the backing of NFP president Ivan Barnes, whose party holds a single seat.
However, NFP MPL Mbali Shinga, who also serves as Social Development MEC under the Ntuli-led GPU, has made it clear she will not vote for the premier’s removal.
The ANC, with 14 seats in the Legislature, also opposed the motion.
We are part of the GPU, and our position has not changed.
“The ANC stands fully behind the GPU as it did from the beginning,” said ANC provincial coordinator Mike Mabuyakhulu.
The DA confirmed its MPLs would not support the motion.
“The PEC has resolved unanimously to reject the motion, which is an attempt by the MK Party to create chaos and instability in the province,” the party said in a statement issued following its provincial executive committee meeting.