Thirty-five (35) of the thirty-seven (37) members of the Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP) in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature who were caught on camera causing mayhem inside the chambers on December 15, during the failed motion to remove Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, have been slapped with heavy sanctions.
The MPLs (Members of the Provincial Legislature) have since been suspended for five sittings without pay. Their sentences will run from 12 January 2026 to 16 January 2026.
The sanctions were communicated in a letter from the Speaker, Nontembeko Boyce, to Bonginkosi Mngadi, the Chief Whip of the MK Party in the legislature.
Boyce said the conduct of the MPLs, except Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza and Ishana Barciela, who did not participate in the chaos, warranted the sanction. Among the suspended MPLs are Mervyn Dirks, Emacous Moyo-Mbatha, Mngadi, Mpume Gasa, and Dr Zwelakhe Mthethwa, amongst others.
Boyce said their conduct on the day constituted grossly disorderly conduct as contemplated in Rule 63(1), and despite repeated calls to order and lawful instructions to desist, the MK Party members concerned persisted in the misconduct.
“The conduct is not only grossly disorderly and unlawful in terms of the Rules of the Legislature but is prima facie inconsistent with a Member’s oath of office taken in terms of Schedule 2 of the Constitution, which requires members to respect, uphold and obey the Constitution and the law.
“It is further recorded as an aggravating factor that the behaviour further constitutes a violation of foundational constitutional values, including human dignity, equality and non-sexism. Such conduct has no place in a constitutional democracy and represents a profound betrayal of the responsibilities entrusted to members of this House,” reads the letter.
Boyce then spelt out the sanctions for the MPLs.
“In the circumstances, and to restore order and protect the authority of the Legislature, I have, in terms of Rule 66, ordered the suspension of yourself and other MK members, (excluding Hon. Chiliza and Hon Barciela), from the service of the House for a period of five (5) sitting days, without remuneration. This sanction takes effect immediately on conclusion of recess and constituency periods (i.e. from Monday the 12th January to Friday the 16th January 2026) and includes exclusion from the precincts of the Legislature for the duration of the suspension,” Boyce further said in the letter dated 18 December 2025.
Mngadi said they will not take the suspension lying down, but said the next course of action will be discussed during a meeting with the leadership of the party later on Monday.
It is not yet clear whether or not the two MPLs of the EFF, Mongezi Thwala and Thobisile Nkosi, had been slapped with the same sanctions.
Nkosi was caught on video repeatedly throwing water bottles at the police officers who were called in to restore order inside the chambers.
