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]
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]
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