The uMkhonto Wesizwe party – led by former president Jacob Zuma – says its plans to topple the coalition governing KwaZulu-Natal, where it holds a majority of seats, are at an advanced stage. (Photo: Luba Lesolle / Gallo Images) 
In a fresh bid to take over governance of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party is mulling a motion of no-confidence against the premier, Thami Ntuli, and his executive in a bid to correct what it believes is a direct assault to democracy.
The plan for a no-confidence motion is already at an advanced stage, according to the MK party’s head of presidency, Magasela Mzobe. He confirmed that the party is engaging several political parties in the legislature to support its bid to topple the provincial government unity of KwaZulu-Natal.
The MK party emerged as the biggest political party in the province after the May 29 elections, winning 37 seats in the 80-seat KZN legislature, followed by the IFP, which won 15 seats, the ANC (14), the DA (11), the EFF (two) and the NFP (one).
Read more: KZN coalition government here to stay, differences being ironed out, insists ANC
Although the MK party had hoped for a decisive 50%+1 victory in the province, its dispute over the election results, which delayed coalition negotiations, opened the door for the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP to form a governing coalition, with a total of 41 seats, leaving the MK party in the cold.
Now the party, which turns one year old in two weeks, says it will pull out all stops to rectify this. It is mobilising members of the legislature from different political parties and is engaging community leaders to stage protests. It is also considering spreading the message through churches.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/P10-ChrisM-KZN-premier.jpg "The MK party says it plans on tabling a motion of no-confidence in KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli and his executive. (Photo: Gallo Images / Darren Stewart)")
‘It is undemocratic; pure criminality’
“We would not be able to explain our existence if we don’t fight for that; 45% of people who voted in KZN voted for MK, the second party is 18% support, but it has a premier and an MEC. It is undemocratic, it is pure criminality,” Mzobe said.
He confirmed that talks were at advanced stages with members of various political parties in the province that have suggested that as the biggest party the MK party ought to be in government .
Not only is the exclusion of MK from the provincial government unsustainable, but it has the potential of setting a wrong precedent and discouraging people from voting, Mzobe said.
“Tomorrow a political party will get 48% and all the other political parties will gang against it and we call that democracy; it is not sustainable. Why would people be enthusiastic about going out to cast their votes in numbers when they know that their party of choice will not govern despite having a majority.’
The party faces limited options in its efforts to form a provincial government. It requires just four additional seats beyond the 37 it already holds to secure a majority of 41. However, its relationship with the EFF, which holds two seats, has recently deteriorated following the departure of several high-ranking EFF members to the MK party.
In a recent media briefing, EFF leader Julius Malema declared the MK party as enemy number one, a sharp shift from his stance during the lead-up to the May 29 elections, when he had expressed a willingness to work with Zuma’s party.
“We have no relationship with MK party and even worse now when MK party has made it its programme to recruit members of the EFF,” Malema said.
Read more: Malema dismisses reports of potential EFF rebellion over Ndlozi ‘ban’
Responding to Malema, Dali Mpofu, a former EFF member and now part of the MK party’s high command, said: “We will never declare any black organisation as our enemy. The word enemy is a strong one.”
Even if the red berets made amends with the MK party, it would still need an additional two seats, which it is unlikely to get from the IFP or the DA.
The ANC is a likely partner, not only from an ideological perspective, but particularly as it has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the provincial government. Last month, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal was said to be planning to dump the provincial coalition government in favour of a governing alliance with the MK party.
The ANC, however, later backtracked during a media briefing when provincial leader Siboniso Duma said that although the party was not happy with a number of issues in the provincial government, it was nevertheless fully committed to continue its participation in this government.
Read more: KZN coalition government on shaky ground as MK looks to muscle in
Daily Maverick reported that Duma said ANC leaders were engaging its governing partners to iron out these differences.
Even if the ANC and their partners iron out their differences, some political analysts have warned that any coalition government that excludes the MK party will always be unstable and weak.
Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast of Nelson Mandela University said the MK party’s fresh bid to take over the province was not far-fetched, given its spectacular performance in the May 29 polls.
“There’s a lot of fragility in KZN, they stand a good chance of ousting the ANC and IFP, and now the interesting thing they are doing is to take a strategic advantage of the cracks in the PEC [provincial executive council] of the ANC and the mother body.
“They stand a good chance, but the question is with whom will they join the forces,” Breakfast said.
The MK party is preparing to celebrate its first anniversary on 16 December with a major event at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Zuma is set to address the crowd, reflecting on the party’s electoral victories and outlining the path forward. As the party sets its sights on governing KwaZulu-Natal and expanding into key metros, including Ekurhuleni, the event will mark an important moment in the party’s growth and future ambitions. DM