MKP still has KZN Premier in its sights as no confidence discussions ongoing
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has appealed to individual members of the KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity to vote with their conscience during the expected motion of no confidence against Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli.
In a recent interview with the MKP’s Secretary-General Dr Bongani Mncwango, he said the party had not approached any party within the GPU (Government of Provincial Unity) to assist in its renewed campaign to dislodge Ntuli, who is the provincial chairperson of the IFP. Two weeks ago the MKP resuscitated its campaign to dismantle the GPU, by filing a motion of no confidence against Ntuli.
The Office of the Speaker Nontembeko Boyce confirmed receiving the motion, saying it will be processed accordingly but is yet to provide the date for the debate of the motion in the legislature.
Mncwango said his party filed the motion without first discussing it with any party, saying it is banking on the ‘conscience of individual members of the legislature to do the right thing’.
“As of now we are not talking to any party, we are appealing to the individual members of the house to use their conscience when exercising their rights to vote,” said Mncwango.
He said that a decision to approach any party in the GPU will only be sanctioned by the president of the party, Jacob Zuma.
Last week, Ntuli dismissed the motion as opportunistic, saying that the GPU, under his leadership, is stable and the province was the only one that registered economic growth in the whole country. The province registered 0.28% in the last financial quarter.
“There is stability in the province.
“We are winning the fight against crime and our province is the only one that registered economic growth in the last quarter so we think it is just craziness for the MKP to file a motion of no confidence while we have brought stability in the province. I think the motion was unnecessary,” said Ntuli.
The National Freedom Party’s member of the provincial legislature and Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga said her party’s position is that it is a member of the GPU. The party is a kingmaker with its seat. However, the party’s Acting Secretary-General Sunset Xaba said Shinga was not acting on behalf of the party in the legislature and the party was awaiting for a court date over disciplinary action against her defiance.
The ANC, which is a crucial GPU partner, is mum on whether it will support or defend the GPU, with provincial spokesperson Fanle Sibisi said the party’s position has not changed.
The MKP motion comes while the ANC Youth League in the province is pushing its mother body to leave the GPU.
EFF provincial secretary Vukani Ndlovu indicated that his party may support the motion, saying it is not happy with how Ntuli has handled the allegations of corruption in ANC-led departments. Ndlovu said the MKP had informally approached them, however they have not held formal talks.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za