The DA through its chief whip is considering whether to lay criminal charges after MK Party Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) became unruly when their motion of no confidence against KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli failed on Monday. The MK Party had demanded a secret ballot, stating that their members had been threatened however the Speaker Nontembeko Boyce denied this request. The members of the MK Party then began singing in the House, delaying the process.

When calm was restored, the vote was conducted via an open ballot. Things got worse in the House after Boyce announced that the motion had failed with the IFP-ANC-DA-NFP coalition defeating the MK-EFF motion of no confidence by 40 votes to 39. Eventually the police had to be called in to remove unruly members. It was reported by IOL that one MK Party MPL was injured in the scuffle. DA KZN leader Francois Rodgers said the MK Party attempted to create chaos and anarchy in the House.

“The MKP Members of the Legislature made the decision to become violent and disrupt the proceedings in order to halt the vote by the members after realizing that their motion to destabilize the governance of KZN was not going to be successful, as we had warned them. "The DA notes with grave concern some of the MKP members' gesticulations and outbursts during the debate, when they indicated or shouted that some members who intended to vote against the motion will be "destroyed."" He added that the Speaker of the Legislature had what seemed to be a water bottle thrown at her. “The constant stomping and banging of the legislature furniture was nothing but a fruitless act to intimidate the members of the legislature.

The DA through its chief whip will explore options to lay criminal charges (as) both the Speaker and Legislature secretary were assaulted when the house was adjourned.” The IFP's national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, stated that the party criticized the MKP's behavior during the proceedings. “The violent, aggressive, and intimidatory behaviour displayed is unacceptable in a democratic legislature and represents a direct assault on the principles of constitutional democracy, accountability, and respect for institutions of governance. “In particular, the IFP condemns in the strongest terms the manner in which the Speaker of the Legislature was treated. Political disagreement must never be pursued through threats, violence, or misogynistic conduct.�

�� In its statement on the matter, the MK Party said it rejected the process and purported outcome of the Legislature sitting. It stated that despite credible threats of death against MPLs, their reasonable request for a secret ballot had been denied. It was the direct and legitimate consequence of a refusal to protect members and to uphold Constitutional safeguards.” It also stated that because members of the MK Party and the EFF were not seated and did not vote, there was no valid vote. “We will pursue all political, parliamentary and legal avenues to challenge the Speaker's conduct,” the MK Party statement said.