2024 KwaZulu-Natal provincial election explained

The 2024 KwaZulu-Natal provincial election was held on 29 May 2024, concurrently with the 2024 South African general election, to elect the 80 members of the 7th KwaZulu-Natal Legislature. The new MK party flipped KwaZulu Natal from the ANC, earning 37 out of 80 seats to gain a plurality. Conversely, the ANC itself plummeted to the third place, losing its majority in the legislature for the first time since 2004.^[1]

Aftermath

Following the election results, no party had an outright majority, leading coalition government to be inevitable. The NFP was regarded as a kingmaker, due to neither the MK-EFF block, or the ANC-DA-IFP block securing an outright majority.^[2] A couple of days before the first sitting of provincial legislatures, it was reported that a four way deal between the NFP, DA, IFP, and ANC was to take place^[3] while the NFP stated that it was open to coalition talks with any party that approached them in KZN, confirming that they had only held talks with the IFP and ANC.^[4] The NFP president later also met with MK party.^[5] The EFF publicly said they would back the MK part. The MK party, for its part, approached the IFP for coalition talks,^[6] however the IFP claimed the MK party did not show up for negotiations. The NFP later confirmed that they would join a government of provincial unity.^[7]

Despite gains in KwaZulu-Natal province during the general election, Jacob Zuma's MK party suffered a major setback in its heartland province on 14 June after the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislative opted to elect IFP member Thami Ntuli over an MK candidate as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal.^{[8] [9]} Ntuli defeated the MK Party's premier candidate, Zulu Nation's deputy prime minister Phathisizwe Chiliza, with 41 votes to 39.^[10] Ntuli is the first IFP member to serve as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal since 2004.^[11]

Notes and References

1. News: Hunter . Qaanitah . 31 May 2024 . Zuma big election 'winner' as South Africa heads for coalition government . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240531143528/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/31/zuma-big-election-winner-as-south-africa-heads-for-coalition-government . 31 May 2024 . 4 June 2024 . AlJazeera.
2. https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/coalition-nation-kzn-deal-looms-as-nfp-picks-sides-20240611
3. Web site: Eyaaz . 2024-06-11 . ANC to join DA, IFP and NFP to form a government in KwaZulu-Natal . 2024-06-13 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
4. Face The Nation I Coalition Talks . 2024-06-11 . SABC News . 2024-06-13 . YouTube.
5. Web site: x.com . 2024-06-13 . X (formerly Twitter).
6. Web site: 2024-06-12 . MK Party invites IFP for coalition talks in KwaZulu-Natal - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader. . 2024-06-13 . en-US.
7. NFP media briefing . 2024-06-13 . SABC News . 2024-06-13 . YouTube.
8. News: Ardé . Greg . 2024-06-14 . Inkatha Freedom Party's Thami Ntuli is voted in as KwaZulu-Natal's new premier . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240614190011/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-06-14-inkatha-freedom-partys-thami-ntuli-is-voted-in-as-kwazulu-natals-new-premier/ . 14 June 2024 . 2024-06-14 . Daily Maverick.
9. News: Dludla . Nqobile . 2024-06-14 . South Africa's KZN province elects IFP member as premier in setback for Zuma . 2024-06-14 . Reuters . en.
10. News: 14 June 2024 . COALITION NATION: New KZN premier Ntuli to appoint cabinet in four days, promises to fight poverty . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240615064236/https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/coalition-nation-ifps-ntuli-elected-as-kzn-premier-20240614 . 15 June 2024 . 14 June 2024 . News24.
11. News: Pilay . Minoahni . 14 June 2024 . IFP's Thami Ntuli elected as new KZN Premier . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240614190229/https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/kzn-premier/ . 14 June 2024 . 14 June 2024 . SABC.