MKP to forge ahead with another no confidence vote against Ntuli

KZN Premier Thami Ntuli

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) says it will continue pursuing a vote of no confidence against the KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli citing safety concerns ahead of local government elections.

Ntuli survived a motion of no confidence brought by the party on Monday.

The Legislature in Pietermaritzburg descended into chaos earlier after the Speaker Nontembeko Boyce ruled against using a secret ballot.

Speaking to SABC News, MKP Head of the Presidency Makasela Mzobe says political killings in the province justify the party’s call for a secret ballot in the legislature.

Mzobe argues the situation is compounded by what MKP describes as its exclusion from governing KZN despite winning the highest share of the provincial vote in last year’s elections.

He says, “I’m saying to you, KZN political killing is not our imagination, it’s a reality and we’re on the eve of what will seem like a highly contested local government election. We’re requesting that the political leadership in KZN be responsible and not be reckless, allow a secret ballot. If they are confident that their members will take a party line, why not just say, okay, let’s vote so that this process takes a few minutes. We are confident our members love the premier and if we’re lost, we take our bags and go.”

DUDUZILE ZUMA-SAMBUDLA

The MKP says it is deeply concerned about the safety of a group of South Africans linked to a controversial Russia-related programme.

Mzobe says government has now taken over diplomatic efforts to secure their return.

This comes as Russia continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine where many foreign nationals are believed to be fighting.

Mzobe says Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla voluntarily stepped back from her party duties to focus on assisting families of the 17 South Africans and the authorities.

He says, “So it’s true that comrade Dudu, on her own, realising that this matter is becoming too big, and she requested to focus on helping to return those children and give government as much as information she has to help fast-track the process of bringing them home.”

Mzobe adds, “Therefore, she requested that she be allowed to step back and not participate in Parliament or leadership structures of the organisation, but she remains a member of uMkhonto weSizwe and I’m sure Parliament, through the chief whip and the party leader, will soon identify someone to serve in the committee of international relations.”