KZN PREMIER

MEDIA STATEMENT   Premier Ntuli calls for moving from commitments to action, from plans to delivery, and from fragmentation to coordination   KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli, has called for a decisive shift towards implementation-driven partnerships to advance inclusive and sustainable development in the province. Addressing the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 100th Anniversary and engagement with captains of industry in Richards Bay, the Premier emphasised the urgent need for coordinated action across government, business, traditional leadership, and communities.    Premier Ntuli underscored that the province’s economic recovery is gaining momentum, supported by improved investor confidence, infrastructure expansion, and positive economic indicators. He noted that recent data from Statistics South Africa confirms a strengthening growth trajectory, signalling that KwaZulu-Natal is transitioning from a period of instability towards recovery and renewed competitiveness.   Highlighting the importance of unity in governance, the Premier reflected on the formation of the Government of Provincial Unity as a strategic intervention to stabilise the province and rebuild trust with investors. He stated that this unified approach has laid the foundation for recovery across key sectors, including tourism, infrastructure development, and investment promotion.   However, the Premier cautioned that recovery alone is insufficient without ensuring that growth is inclusive and sustainable. He defined inclusive sustainable development as a model that integrates economic expansion with social equity and environmental responsibility, ensuring that all communities benefit from development while safeguarding resources for future generations.   Central to this vision, Premier Ntuli identified local government as a critical lever for driving sustainable development. He stressed the need to strengthen municipal capacity, improve governance, and position municipalities as active enablers of investment and local economic development.   As part of his closing remarks, the Premier proposed the establishment of a Zululand Inclusive Growth Compact—a structured partnership platform that will bring together the private sector, local government, traditional leaders, and communities to drive coordinated development in the King Cetshwayo District and the broader Zululand region.   “This Compact must move beyond dialogue and become a results-driven mechanism that aligns investment, unlocks opportunities, and ensures accountability across all stakeholders,” said Premier Ntuli.   He further called on the private sector to deepen its role in enterprise development and job creation, municipalities to create an enabling environment for growth, traditional leaders to facilitate community-based development, and communities to actively participate in shaping their economic future.   Premier Ntuli concluded with a strong call to action:
“Let us move from commitments to action, from plans to delivery, and from fragmentation to coordination. The time for discussion has passed; the time for decisive, collective action is now.”   Ends   @kzngov @GCIS_KZN @ZOPublications @business @BusinessInsider @IOL @ezivuthay

UYAMEMEZA OKANDABA Today as per instruction by His Majesty, ISILO, I organised and facilitated an important sustainable dialogue on @IngonyamaTrust.

Today I am attending the 6th South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC 2026), which positions the country as Africa’s most convincing and captivating investment destination. Hosted by @CyrilRamaphosa , SAIC 2026 is a high-level platform, where reform impetus turns into capital deployment, strategic partnerships and measurable economic outcomes. @kzngov @PresidencyZA

The renewal of General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s contract is a welcome and important development. It represents continuity and stability in our ongoing fight against crime. We remain committed to strengthening our collaboration with the South African Police Service, working together to ensure the safety and security of our communities.@kzngov @PresidencyZA @SAPoliceService @GCIS_KZN

LONG LIVE THE KING ! In March 2021, the longest-serving Zulu Monarch, Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, departed to the land of iZinyandezulu. Working closely with his longest-serving Prime Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi, aMakhosi, and successive democratic governments, ISILO laid a firm foundation for the modernisation and institutional strengthening of the Zulu Monarchy. This week marks five years since the passing of ISILO Esidala. It is a moment for reflection on his enduring legacy — a legacy defined by the promotion of unity, cultural pride, and development within our province, KwaZulu-Natal. Last week, during my bilateral engagement with the sitting Monarch, Misuzulu kaZwelithini, I was encouraged to hear how His Majesty intends to build upon the firm foundation laid by ISILO Esidala. As I conveyed to His Majesty, the 7th Administration remains committed to supporting the Monarch and the Royal Family to ensure that this institution — recognised by this August House as both the Zulu Monarch and the Monarch of the Province — continues to evolve and strengthen. In honouring ISILO Esidala, we reaffirm our shared responsibility to preserve our heritage while ensuring that the institution of the Monarchy continues to modernise and serve the people of KwaZulu-Natal for generations to come. May the legacy of ISILO Zwelithini continue to guide us. @kzngov @PresidencyZA

GEOPOLITICS AND GEOECONOMICS KwaZulu-Natal is part of an interconnected global system. What happens beyond our borders increasingly shapes our economy, our development path, and the everyday lives of our people. Global geopolitical shifts — from economic realignments and conflicts to climate change and technological change — influence trade, investment flows, energy security, food prices, and the cost of living, even in the most remote communities of our province. These dynamics remind us that provincial development cannot be separated from global realities. Sound leadership means understanding these shifts and positioning our economy accordingly. But geopolitics is not only about risk. It also opens new opportunities — for trade, cultural heritage tourism, and investment in emerging sectors. With its strategic location, world-class ports, and productive industries, KwaZulu-Natal is well placed to benefit from new partnerships and evolving global value chains. This year, our province will actively position itself to seize the opportunities created by changing geopolitics and geoeconomics — turning global shifts into local growth and opportunity. @BRICSinfo @tikzn @DurbanChamber @TransnetNPA @eThekwiniM @UmhlathuzeM @KZNGPUATWORK @KZNTreasury @kzngov

A CRITICAL STEP FOWARD: ITHALA SOC LIQUIDATION WITHDRAWN I welcome the decision by the Prudential Authority to withdraw the liquidation application against Ithala SOC Limited, a subsidiary of the Ithala Development Finance Corporation (IDFC). This is an important moment for an institution that has long served the people of KwaZulu-Natal. In my Second State of the Province Address in 2025, I outlined the strategic repositioning of IDFC as a key development finance institution for our province. For more than 60 years, IDFC has supported enterprise development, financial inclusion, and community upliftment — especially in rural and historically marginalised communities. The withdrawal of the liquidation application gives us the opportunity to protect and strengthen this important development institution. Our focus remains clear: reposition IDFC and Ithala SOC to drive job creation, support emerging enterprises, and expand economic opportunities across KwaZulu-Natal. Strong development institutions are essential to economic transformation and inclusive growth. We remain committed to ensuring that Ithala continues to serve as a catalyst for empowerment, development, and opportunity for the people of KwaZulu-Natal. @KZNGPUATWORK @kzngov @ZANewsFlash @PresidencyZA @CyrilRamaphosa @GCIS_KZN @KZNTreasury @edtea_kzn

OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY FORMULA 1/ Crime is complex and persistent. It demands a collaborative, multi-dimensional response — bringing together government, civil society, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, business, and most importantly, ordinary citizens. 2/ We place communities at the centre of safety creation. Safety is not just the absence of crime — it is the presence of trust, social cohesion, and shared responsibility. 3/ Our focus is on addressing root causes, not just reacting to symptoms. That means integrating social and economic interventions into crime prevention efforts. 4/ Community safety cannot be achieved through policing alone. It requires partnerships that include mental health support, youth empowerment, environmental care, and sustained civic engagement. 5/ Working closely with the South African Police Service under Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, communities across the province have reaffirmed one truth: government cannot fight crime alone. 6/ Volunteerism is not enough. Effective safety initiatives require structured training, coordination, and sustained institutional support. 7/ That is why we are strengthening Community Policing Forums (CPFs), Youth Crime Prevention Desks, the KZN Community Crime Prevention Association, the Spiritual Crime Prevention Movement, and Neighbourhood Watch structures. 8/ Community safety is a shared professional endeavour — requiring skill, strategy, and partnership. By investing in people, we build not only safer communities, but stronger and more resilient ones. @kzngov @KZN_ComSafety @KZNGPUATWORK

@BusisiweMs10815 It’s hard to believe that’s the strongest argument on offer. When you’re ready for a more substantive exchange, I’d be glad to engage—after all, we can disagree and still keep it thoughtful

@kznpremier Enjoy blue lights whilst it lasts

REMARKS - PRESIDENTIAL ETHEKWINI WORKING GROUP Your Excellency , strengthening municipalities is not a political project — it is a service delivery imperative. If local government fails, our people feel it first and hardest. In isiZulu we say “Yakhela ngamaqubu enye” — build the next brick upon the foundation already laid. Today, I say without hesitation that as the Government of Provincial Unity, we have borrowed from your bold leadership. Inspired by the success of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group, we have launched a similar intervention in our Capital City, uMsunduzi. This is not imitation for its own sake; it is replication of a model that works — one that brings government, business, labour and civil society into a single room to confront challenges with urgency and shared accountability. @kzngov @eThekwiniM @KZNGPUATWORK @PresidencyZA @kzncogta

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT KZNGPU As political parties that now constitute the Government of Provincial Unity, we took this mandate seriously. We understood that the people were asking us to rise above narrow partisan interests and to place the needs of the province first. They asked us to govern together, not because we are the same, but because the challenges we face demand collective action.   The Government of Provincial Unity is not a political convenience; it is a democratic instruction. It is an expression of the maturity of our electorate and their deep understanding that the problems of unemployment, poverty, inequality, crime, and service delivery cannot be solved in isolation.   Unity of purpose does not mean the absence of difference. It means managing our differences responsibly, respectfully, and constructively. It means engaging robustly where we disagree but always remembering that we are bound by a shared obligation to serve the people of KwaZulu-Natal.   Collective responsibility lies at the heart of this administration. Successes will belong to all of us, just as failures will demand collective accountability. There will be no space for blame-shifting or political grandstanding, because the people did not vote for excuses—they voted for action. @kzngov @KZNGPUATWORK @PresidencyZA @ANCKZN @DA_KZN @IFPinParliament @NFP_Updates @GCIS_KZN

Thank you for reverting. There is certainly no need for anyone to be lectured. I am sure you are capable of reflecting and engaging the issues — particularly when it comes to understanding electoral systems and coalition governments across the world. In the context of KwaZulu-Natal, the current administration was formed by majority parties in accordance with the requirements of our electoral framework. That is the practical reality of representative democracy. Indeed, even the MKP, should it seek to govern, would similarly need to secure the support of other parties. Coalition-building is not an anomaly; it is often a necessity within proportional systems.

@kznpremier We are so ridiculed by people who want to govern us without the will of the people & you want to lecture us?

@BusisiweMs10815 I hope that, as a country and as a people, we learn to sharpen our arguments instead of our tongues. Progress begins when we choose reason over ridicule. I truly hope you’ll be part of that shift.

@kznpremier 18% Premier sellout

PRESIDENTIAL ETHEKWINI WORKING GROUP Today I joined @CyrilRamaphosa as part of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) session. The PeWG is a collaborative initiative that brings together key government departments, local government, the private sector, and civil society to coordinate efforts, improve infrastructure, and enhance economic opportunities in the region. @kzngov @KZNGPUATWORK @GCIS_KZN @eThekwiniM @PresidencyZA

MY UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY TO THE SPEAKER AND WOMEN IN GENERAL On the 15th of December 2025, our people witnessed — first-hand and in full public view — the consequences of chaos. Before their eyes and across television screens, they saw a moment that brought shame upon this institution and undermined the dignity of democratic governance. What unfolded was ( led by @MkhontoweSizwex ) not merely a disruption of proceedings, but a direct affront to the authority of this the Legislature and the values it represents. The leader of the Legislature, the Speaker — a woman entrusted with upholding the integrity of our democratic processes — was subjected to conduct that no public representative, and no woman in our society, should ever endure. That day served as a stark reminder of what is at stake. It revealed the dangers of lawlessness, the erosion of respect for democratic institutions, and the consequences of leadership that places confrontation above responsibility. As representatives of the people, we must reject such conduct unequivocally and choose a different path — a path of stability, mutual respect and disciplined governance. The people of KwaZulu-Natal expect leadership that unites rather than divides, that protects the dignity of our institutions, and that safeguards the democratic order upon which our collective future depends. What our Honourable Speaker experience on the 15 of December 2025 is what thousands of women and girls experience in our province – the verbal abuse and bullying and in worse scenarios beating and even death. For that, on behalf of the government I lead and the people of KwaZulu-Natal and men of goodwill , I unconditional apologise to the Honourable Speaker and all women of our province. @kzngov @KZNGPUATWORK @CGCE_ZA