DA KZN demands Ethics probe over MK Party disruption at public hearing
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal has written to KZN Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce, calling for an Ethics Committee inquiry into what it describes as “recent deliberate and destructive attempts” by the MK Party to undermine the work of the Legislature.
This follows the suspension of several MKP members after what the DA said was “riotous conduct within the House” on 15 December last year.
Thirty-six members of the Provincial Legislature, including 35 from the uMkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP) and one from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), were suspended and lost remuneration for five sitting days, from January 12 to 17, 2026, in line with the legislature’s standing rules.
According to previous reports by IOL, violence erupted at the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature when a motion of no confidence initiated by the MK Party to oust Premier Thami Ntuli failed during an open ballot. The situation escalated into chaos after Speaker Nontembeko Boyce announced that the motion had not succeeded, confirming that Ntuli would continue in his role as Premier.
Boyce described the events as “gross disorderly, violent, and unlawful conduct” and said their behaviour amounted to “a fundamental and unacceptable attack on the parliamentary democracy, the rule of law and the authority of the Presiding Officer,” adding that the legislature would protect its authority and dignity “without any exceptions.”
The party alleges that, in the aftermath, a suspended MKP member was observed transporting individuals to a public hearing with the intention of disrupting proceedings.
The DA said the disruption was so severe that the engagement had to be terminated prematurely, denying members of the public the opportunity to make meaningful contributions and causing the Legislature to incur avoidable costs.
The party said responsibility for the disruption “rests squarely with the MKP”.
Chief Whip of the DA in the KZN Legislature, Dr Imran Keeka, said the party believed the incident constituted “a prima facie case, warranting referral to the Ethics Committee”.
He said the conduct of the member in question “amounts to contempt of the rules of the Legislature and may also contravene applicable national legislation”.
Keeka said that should the Speaker refer the matter, the Ethics Committee would have to determine whether the member “deliberately and improperly interfered with the work of a committee, thereby undermining a constitutionally mandated public participation process”.
He stressed that public participation is “a fundamental pillar of our constitutional democracy”, which “informs law-making, budgetary oversight and policy development” and “ensures that citizens’ voices meaningfully shape decisions within the provincial legislature”.
“To undermine this process is to undermine democracy itself, and it must be unequivocally condemned,” Keeka said.
Keeka said the DA, as part of the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) in KZN, would continue to demand accountability.
“South Africans elect representatives to serve with integrity, diligence and respect for the Constitution and the rule of law – not to engage in disruption or contempt for democratic norms,” he said.
He added that the MKP may claim to be a political force, but “conduct of this nature reveals it to be little more than feckless and without direction”.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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