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Death threats against KZN Premier Thami Ntuli spark calls for action
A dangerous line crossed in KwaZulu-Natal politics
KwaZulu-Natal politics has been jolted by the emergence of explicit death threats against Premier Thami Ntuli, messages that the Inkatha Freedom Party says are circulating openly on social media and directly calling for his killing. The party has described the threats as vile, reckless, and a clear incitement to violence, warning that this kind of rhetoric strikes at the heart of South Africa’s democratic order.
For many in the province, the tone and content of the messages have triggered deep unease. KZN has a painful history of political violence, and any suggestion of harm to an elected leader immediately raises alarm bells about how quickly tensions can escalate if left unchecked.
Praise for leadership, followed by threats
What has added to the shock is the timing. According to the IFP, the threats surfaced just as Ntuli was receiving national praise for KwaZulu-Natal achieving first place in the country’s matric results. The party says this success reflected firm leadership, accountability, and a renewed focus on results-driven governance.
IFP Chief Whip in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and national chairperson, Blessed Gwala, has suggested that this contrast is no coincidence. In his view, Ntuli’s growing reputation for taking a hard line against corruption and maladministration has turned him into a target for those who benefit from weak oversight and blurred accountability.
Not politics, but a crime
The IFP has been emphatic that these threats should not be brushed off as political speech or online bravado. The party insists that calling for the death of a sitting premier is a criminal act and must be treated as such.
Gwala has warned that anyone who issues or amplifies such threats should expect to be identified, investigated, and held accountable under the law. He has stressed that there can be no tolerance for political intimidation or calls for violence in a constitutional democracy, particularly in a province that knows too well the cost of allowing violent rhetoric to fester.
Calls for protection and a full investigation
In response, the IFP has opened a criminal case and says it will also pursue its own internal investigation to ensure the matter receives serious attention. The party has called for an urgent, impartial, and comprehensive probe by law enforcement and security agencies, alongside enhanced protection for the Premier.
The language from the party has been unusually strong. Calls that heads must roll reflect both anger and fear, with the IFP warning that silence or complacency would endanger Ntuli’s life and undermine the rule of law in KwaZulu-Natal.
A wider warning for democracy
Beyond the immediate threat, this incident has reignited public conversation about the normalisation of violent language in political spaces, especially online. Social media users across South Africa have expressed concern that unchecked threats can quickly move from words to action, particularly in a province with a volatile past.
For now, the IFP has made it clear that intimidation will not succeed. The party says Premier Ntuli will not be deterred from his duties, and that political violence will not be allowed to take root again in KwaZulu-Natal. The coming days will test whether the justice system can respond swiftly enough to send a clear message that democracy is not negotiable.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: EWN
