Thami Ntuli
{{Short description|South African politician (born 1973)}}
{{grammar|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Thami Ntuli
| image = KZN Premier Thami Ntuli (cropped).jpg
| caption = Ntuli in 2024
| office = 10th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal
| monarch = Misuzulu
| term_start = 18 June 2024
| predecessor = Nomusa Dube-Ncube
| office2 = Mayor of the King Cetshwayo District Municipality
| deputy2 = Sikhumbuzo Dlamini
| term_start2 = 22 November 2021
| term_end2 = 14 June 2024
| predecessor2 = Nonhle Mkhulisi (ANC)
| successor2 =
| office3 = Mayor of Nkandla Local Municipality
| deputy3 = Cllr. MB Biyela
| term_start3 = 10 December 2012
| term_end3 = 31 October 2021
| predecessor3 = ANC/NFP Alliance (Zama)
| successor3 = Cllr. MB Biyela
| office4 = Provincial Chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party in KwaZulu-Natal
| leader4 = Velenkosini Hlabisa
| term_start4 = 29 June 2019
| term_end4 =
| deputy4 = Mduduzi Myeza
| predecessor4 = Mbangiseni Yengwa
| office5 = SALGA Chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal
| status5 =
| term_start5 = March 2022
| term_end5 = 14 June 2024
| predecessor5 = Nonhle Mkhulisi (ANC)
| birthname = Thamsanqa Arthur Ntuli
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|11|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Nkandla, KwaZulu, South Africa
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = South African
| party = Inkatha Freedom Party
| otherparty = National Teachers Union (2001-2013)
| spouse = Sindiswa kaSibisi Ntuli
| partner =
| relations =
| children = 6
| residence = Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| education = {{flatlist|
- Vumanhlamvu Primary
- Nomangci Secondary}}
| alma_mater = {{flatlist|
| occupation =
| profession = Educator. Politicians. Businessman.
| known_for =
| committees =
| awards =
| website = {{flatlist|
- ifp.org.za
- kcdm.gov.za
- salga.org.za}}
| honorific_prefix = The Honourable
| honorific_suffix = MPL
}}
Arthur Thamsanqa Ntuli (born 11 November 1973) is a South African politician who is the Provincial Chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party, and current Premier of KwaZulu-Natal. He is the former mayor of Nkandla Local Municipality and King Cetshwayo District Municipality.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-06-18-new-kzn-premier-thami-ntuli-announces-cabinet-during-inauguration-address/|title=New KZN Premier Thami Ntuli announces coalition cabinet during inauguration address|first=Velani|last=Ludidi|publisher=Daily Maverick|date=2024-06-18|accessdate=2024-06-18}}
Early life and education
Arthur Thamsanqa Ntuli was born on 11 November 1973 in Vumanhlamvu, Nkandla. He studied at Vumanhlamvu Primary School, Nomangci Secondary (now Mzikazi Secondary) and Nkandla Secondary. After graduating, he took on different jobs, as a cleaner, cashier, and a security guard.{{Cite web |title=Mr Arthur Thamsanqa Ntuli – MBALI International Conference 2024 |url=https://mbali.unizulu.ac.za/mr-arthur-thamsanqa-ntuli/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |language=en-US}}
In 1993, Ntuli began his education career as a teacher at Mashinga Secondary School, while working towards a part-time Diploma in Education at Rand Afrikaans University. He then obtained an Advanced Diploma in Education at the University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal) and a Bachelor of Education Honors in Law Management at the University of Pretoria.{{Cite web |title=About The Premier Of KwaZulu Natal |url=https://www.kzncomsafety.gov.za/about-the-premier/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=KwaZulu-Natal Community Safety and Liaison |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Adeaga |first=Favour |date=2025-03-11 |title=Who is Thami Ntuli? A comprehensive biography of the KZN Premier - Briefly.co.za |url=https://briefly.co.za/facts-lifehacks/celebrities-biographies/211006-who-thami-ntuli-a-comprehensive-biography-kzn-premier/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=briefly.co.za |language=en}}
Career
For more than 20 years, Ntuli worked as a school teacher and principal in KwaZulu-Natal. In 2010, he began working as a Councilor and Mayor for Nkandla Local Municipality, and from 2021 to 2024 he acted as Mayor of King Cetshwayo District Municipality. He then resigned to run in the 2024 provincial elections.{{Cite web |title=Who’s who of South Africa’s new provincial premiers |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/356573/whos-who-of-south-africas-new-provincial-premiers/ |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=The Africa Report.com |language=en}}
= Premier of KwaZulu-Natal =
On the 29th of January 2024, IFP announced Thami Ntuli as their KZN Premier candidate for 2024 General Elections. On June 14, Ntuli was elected as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal in a sitting of the provincial legislature. He would be elected in with coalition support from the IFP, African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA) and National Freedom Party (NFP), Ntuli defeated the MK Party's premier candidate, Zulu Nation's deputy prime minister Phathisizwe Chiliza, with 41 votes to 39.{{cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/coalition-nation-ifps-ntuli-elected-as-kzn-premier-20240614 |title=COALITION NATION: New KZN premier Ntuli to appoint cabinet in four days, promises to fight poverty |publisher=News24 |date=14 June 2024 |accessdate=14 June 2024}} Ntuli is the first IFP member to serve as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal since 2004.{{cite news|url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/kzn-premier/|title=IFP's Thami Ntuli elected as new KZN Premier|first=Minoahni|last=Pilay|publisher=SABC|date=14 June 2024|accessdate=14 June 2024}} Thami Ntuli was officially inaugurated as the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal on 18 June 2024.{{cite news |last1=Ludidi |first1=Velani |title=South Africa: New KZN Premier Thami Ntuli Announces Coalition Cabinet During Inauguration Address |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202406190067.html |work=Daily Maverick |date=19 June 2024 |language=en}}
Ntuli announced a new provincial cabinet on June 18 which included 10 members, four from the Inkatha Freedom Party, three from the African National Congress, two from the Democratic Alliance and one from the National Freedom Party. In a significant move, he announced that the Department of Community Safety and Liaison would be placed directly under the Office of the Premier.
The IFP leads four portfolios: leader of government business; co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta); agriculture; and sports. The ANC, with the second most portfolios, will lead health, education, transport and human settlements. The DA will lead finance and public works while the National Freedom Party (NFP) will lead social development. The formula is in line with a coalition agreement between the parties.
- Economic development — Musa Zondi (IFP);
- Cogta — Thulasizwe Buthelezi (IFP);
- Health — Nomagugu Simelane (ANC);
- Social development — Mbali Shinga (NFP);
- Public works — Lucas Meyer (DA);
- Finance — Francois Rogers (DA);
- Agriculture — Thembeni Madlopha Mthethwa (IFP);
- Transport and human settlements — Siboniso Duma (ANC);
- Education — Sipho Hlomuka (ANC); and
- Sports, arts and culture — Mntomuhle Khawula (IFP).
References
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Category:South African politicians