Draft:Thami Ntuli 2

Thami Ntuli (born 10 November 1975) is a South African politician who is the Provincial Chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party in KwaZulu-Natal. He is the former mayor of Nkandla Local Municipality, currently serving as the mayor of King Cetshwayo District Municipality.

Early life and education
Ntuli is from Nkandla, he attended Sgananda Primary and then Bizimali High. He studied Diploma in Education and Teaching at the University of Zululand, his studies were funded by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. After finishing his teaching diploma he became a teacher at Bizimali High where he matriculated, he became the principal until the 10th of December 2012 when he was elected as the mayor of Nkandla Local Municipality.

Career
Before going into politics, Ntuli worked as a teacher at Bizimali High and later became the principal. Ntuli was also a member of NATU.

Mayor of Nkandla
Ntuli became a mayor of Nkandla Local Municipality after winning back Ward 4 off the ANC, this saw the mayor of the ANC/NFP alliance being removed and Ntuli was elected unopposed. In 2015 a week before by-elections in Nkandla Local Municipality and Mthonjaneni Local Municipality, the ANC in Musa Dladla region embarked on a protest against Ntuli. The march was led by Nonhle Mkhulisi, Mdu Mhlongo and Thuthukile Zuma the daughter of Jacob Zuma, they were carrying placards written #NtuliMustFAll. They were accusing Ntuli of corruption but Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Velenkosini Hlabisa who was the provincial secretary then defended Ntuli stating that the ANC was trying to decampaign Ntuli as the by-elections were approaching. In April 2020, Ntuli was arrested after he was caught distributing food parcels in Nkandla, it was stated that he breached COVID19 Lockdown Regulations. However, Ntuli claimed that his arrest was politically motivated, he believed that he was targeted by the ANC, stating that Sihle Zikalala had been distributing food parcels but was never arrested.

IFP KZN Chairperson
Ntuli was elected to the position during the IFP’s provincial elective conference in Ulundi in the north of the province. IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi nominated Ntuli for the position which Mbangiseni Yengwa also contested. Ntuli emerged by 13 votes.

Mayor of King Cetshwayo District Municipality
After the resergence of IFP in the northern KZN in 2021 Local Government Elections...

Ntuli vs. Hlabisa IFP Succession
Ntuli was expected and prepared to contest Velenkosini Hlabisa for the IFP presidency in 2019. However, Mangosuthu Buthelezi decided to nominate Ntuli for provincial chair.

IFP/DA Service Delivery Pact
When IEC announced a by-election in Ward 99 eThekwini, the DA and IFP signed a pact. The DA did not field a candidate but advised its members in the ward to throw their lot behind the IFP. The DA and the IFP later signed a Service Delivery Pact the DA was represented by Dean Macpherson the leader of DAKZN

KZN Premier Candidate
On the 29th of January 2024, IFP announced Thami Ntuli as their KZN Premier candidate for 2024 General Elections.