Thami Ntuli

Arthur Thamsanqa Ntuli (born 1973) 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 and King Cetshwayo District Municipality, currently serves as the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal.

Early life and education
Thami Ntuli was born in 1973 at Nkandla in an area called Vumanhlamvu. He studied primary education at Vumanhlamvu Primary School and did secondary education at Nomangci Secondary now known as Mzikazi Secondary. He did Standard 8 at Sibonokuhle Secondary and standard 10 (matric) at Nkandla Secondary. After matric he worked as a cleaner and cashier at Mabedlane (Mahlabathini) in a shop known as Ndlovane. He also worked as a security guard under Gray Security Company at Ulundi. In 1993 he was appointed as an unqualified teacher at Mashinga Secondary School where he registered a Diploma in Education (part time studies) at Rand Afrikaans University. He also did an Advance Certificate in Management in Natal University. Ntuli also registered a Honours Degree in Education Law and Management at the University of Pretoria. He was appointed the Head of Department at Mashinga Secondary. Mr Ntuli was also appointed as the Deputy Principal at Nkandla Secondary School and after that was seconded to the National Teachers Union (NATU) head office where he worked as the national recruitment coordinator. NATU also appointed him as national case manager and chief negotiator in the Education Labour Relations Counci (ELRC). Ntuli also served as a school principal at Hwanqana Combined School and Lushaba Secondary School where he resigned in order to serve as a Councillor and Mayor of Nkandla Local Municipality for 10 years.

Mayor of Nkandla
Mr Thami 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, he recently resigns from being a mayor of King Cetshwayo District Municipality

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

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 14th, Ntuli was elected as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal in a sitting of the provincial legilsature. 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. Ntuli is the first IFP member to serve as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal since 2004. He would be inaugurated on June 18, 2024.

Ntuli announced a new provincial cabinet on June 18th 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.Newly inaugurated KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli did not waste any time on Tuesday, announcing his cabinet during his inauguration speech. Members are made up of representatives of the ANC/IFP/DA/NFP coalition. Premier Thami Ntuli on Tuesday announced the 10 members of his executive to lead portfolios.

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. The IFP, which received 18% of the vote, has the most MECs.The ANC gets three MECs, with 16%, the DA two, with 14%, and the NFP one.

The list of MECs:
 * 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).