Thami Ntuli of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has been elected as the new Premier of KwaZulu-Natal.
This comes after the African National Congress (ANC), Inkatha Freedom Party, Democratic Alliance (DA) and National Liberal Party agreed to work together to govern the province. In the general election on 29 May, Umkhonto we'Sizwe won the most votes in KwaZulu-Natal but fell short of a majority.
For the first time since 2004, the IFP is in power in KwaZulu-Natal, but this time through a coalition government rather than alone.
Ntuli is the IFP provincial chairperson and also serves as mayor of King Cetshwayo District Municipality.
In his first message to State House, Ntuli said he was humbled.
“I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to serve the people of KwaZulu-Natal and also honoured by the way Parliament has conducted itself today. What we are embarking on today is an important journey as we join the ranks of those who have come before us who have striven to better the lives of the people of KwaZulu-Natal and our country. I am extremely honoured and will serve the people of KwaZulu-Natal with sincerity.”
Ntuli won with 41 votes. MK nominated its member, Inkosi Patisizwe Chiliza, who received 39 votes. Chiliza is also the Zulu monarchy's traditional deputy prime minister.
The ANC's Nothembeko Boyce was re-elected as speaker, a position she has held since 2019. This was despite unsuccessful objections from MK Party and EFF members who raised concerns about the secrecy of the vote and called for a re-run.
Boyce called on members to work together in the interest of the people of the state.
“We must work together for the benefit of the people of this state and to fulfill our constitutional obligations. I am calling on all of us to make this an orderly House, a respected House. And that's not because we're friends, but because we will differ when we need to differ. But we will differ for the benefit of the people of this state and to fulfill our constitutional obligations. But we will work, and we will get things done.”
The deputy speaker position was won by the DA's Mmabatho Tembe, who has been a provincial member of parliament since 2021. Tembe says she will work for the empowerment of women and youth.
“As a young woman, this means a lot to me. I will take this position wholeheartedly and serve the province of KwaZulu-Natal that sent us all here, and I will work very closely with the honourable Speaker who has led this Parliament brilliantly so far and will continue to do so in the seventh government. I will protect the Constitution which I recognise is important, I will protect the young women, the youth who are so important to me, and my party which has entrusted me with such an important role.”
Ntuli is due to be sworn in in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday.
