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NFP says fight to remove KZN Premier Thami Ntuli is far from over
A vote lost, but not a war conceded
KwaZulu-Natal politics rarely move quietly, and this week has been no exception. After a motion of no confidence against Premier Thami Ntuli failed in the provincial legislature, the National Freedom Party made one thing clear: they are not backing down.
Publicly, the numbers favoured Ntuli. Politically, however, the fallout has exposed deep fractures that could still reshape the province’s leadership. The NFP insists the failed vote was only a setback, not a conclusion, and that the pressure on the premier remains very real.
Why the NFP is unhappy inside government
The NFP is part of KwaZulu-Natal’s Government of Provincial Unity, alongside the IFP, ANC, and DA. Despite this, the party supported the no-confidence motion brought by the MK Party, arguing that the current administration under Ntuli has fallen short on governance.
That stance raised eyebrows locally. In KZN political circles, it is unusual for a party to vote against a government it helps run. On social media, supporters and critics alike questioned whether the NFP was taking a principled stand or signalling deeper instability within its own ranks.
The vote that exposed internal cracks
Much of the drama centred on the NFP’s sole representative in the legislature, Mbali Shinga, who also serves as MEC for Social Development. Defying her party’s instruction, she voted with the GPU to keep Ntuli in office, saying she would not vote against a government she was part of.
This act of defiance has pushed internal tensions into the open. The party leadership had already attempted to remove her from the legislature, a move that landed in court. After the vote, the NFP formally demanded explanations, raising the possibility of disciplinary action under its constitution.
Leadership insists the pressure will continue
NFP leaders have been blunt. Acting general secretary Bheki Xaba warned that Ntuli should not assume he is safe, stressing that the party still wants him removed and will continue pursuing that outcome. The party’s national executive committee is now set to meet to decide how to handle Shinga’s response and what comes next.
For NFP supporters, the message has been one of resolve. Online reaction has shown frustration with internal divisions but also determination to see the party assert its authority and follow through on its stated position.
Analysts say Ntuli’s future is tied to NFP unity
Political analysts watching KZN closely believe the premier’s fate may hinge less on opposition votes and more on whether the NFP can restore discipline. Analyst Thabani Khumalo argues that if the party recalls Shinga and deploys a new representative who follows the party mandate, Ntuli’s position could quickly become untenable.
Another analyst, Musa Xulu, has questioned the NFP’s strategy, noting that voting against its own government is politically risky and could leave the party with limited influence if power shifts again.
A province still watching closely
For ordinary KwaZulu-Natal residents, this unfolding saga is about more than party politics. With service delivery, social development, and economic recovery all under strain, uncertainty at the top of the province adds to public anxiety.
The failed motion may have kept Thami Ntuli in office for now, but the NFP’s warning suggests the story is far from finished. As internal battles play out behind closed doors, KZN remains in a holding pattern, waiting to see whether this fragile political arrangement can survive its own contradictions.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Daily News
