NFP in Turmoil as Senior Leaders Brawl in Durban, IFP Rejects MKP Alliance in KZN GPU

More chaos erupted within the ranks of the National Freedom Party (NFP), the organisation that is commonly regarded as the kingmaker in the current Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) in KwaZulu-Natal.

Two of their high-ranking officials, party leader Ivan Barnes and the NFP's Uthukela district chairperson Manqoba Dlamini, were involved in a bust-up at Durban's Edward Hotel on Wednesday.

The fist-fight occurred before the party's national chairperson Shevu Mkhabela broke ranks with Barnes and called for his removal during an impromptu media briefing held at the hotel.

The clash between Barnes and Dlamini occurred ahead of Mkhabela's address.

At the same time, another party leader, Mbali Shinga, who is also the Social Development MEC in the GPU, was before the NFP's disciplinary committee in another meeting room at the venue.

Mkhabela indicated that he, together with the party’s provincial executive committee members, were in Shinga's corner, as she stood firm against the efforts by Barnes and his co-collaborators to have her removed from her GPU position.

Mkhabela accused Barnes of being part of a project by 'a certain political party' to cause instability in the GPU and in the province.

He called for Barnes' removal and said that the party’s constitution allowed it to recall the president for, among other things, violating the constitution. He accused Barnes of breaching the NFP's constitution with his attempt to have Shinga removed.

The Umkhonto WeSizwe Party (MKP) has previously initiated motions of no confidence against KZN Premier Thami Ntuli, with the intention of removing him from his position as GPU head.

The MKP's latest unsuccessful motion of no confidence attempt against Ntuli came in December, where Shinga played a game-changing role by defying her party's instruction to vote in favour of dumping the premier.

At another press briefing session staged by Ntuli's party (the IFP), at their headquarters in Durban's CBD on Wednesday, they unequivocally dismissed any notion of working alongside the MKP to govern KZN. The IFP maintained that collaboration with an organisation that includes questionable characters from the past was unacceptable.

The IFP's national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, said the MKP was an unstable entity capable of disrupting the province's progress. “We reject the desperate efforts of the MKP to initiate a motion of no confidence in KZN Premier Thami Ntuli.” 

Hlengwa said that such actions, like the recent violence that broke out in the KZN Legislature during the no confidence voting session, had no place in KZN or any part of the world.

He stated that the MKP had a history of instability, marked by frequent changes in leadership and officials. He warned that a government led by the MKP could entrench corruption and undo the progress made under the GPU.

The party believes that KZN is experiencing positive transformation under Ntuli's leadership, and some of the spin-offs include investment, job creation, stable municipalities, accelerating service delivery, decreasing crime rates, and enhanced healthcare services.

“KZN under his leadership is a better and more progressive province today than it was yesterday,” Hlengwa said.

He asserted that criticisms of the GPU lacked factual backing and reiterated his party's support for the GPU model.

Regarding the NFP's continued participation in the GPU, he mentioned that the IFP had yet to receive official notification regarding their status and expressed intentions to engage the party about their concerns to ensure stability and effective governance in KZN.

“Differences will arise in any coalition or unity government, but they must be resolved through dialogue, discipline, and adherence to agreed processes,” Hlengwa urged.

During his address, Mkhabela also said: “I would not say the NEC has violated the constitution because it's not all the members who are agreeing with Barnes. I and other NEC members are against this. In terms of our constitution the president or the NEC has no authority to suspend, charge or recall any member from his or her government position.

"We want to make it clear that NFP structures enjoy some autonomy which includes deploying and recalling its members from positions of government, however the PEC and Shinga’s branch has not taken that decision.

"Instead they wish to state that they are still happy with the GPU and will defend the Shinga and the GPU,” said Mkhabela.

He gave Barnes and certain members of the NEC an ultimatum to immediately stop Shinga’s disciplinary hearing or face the wrath of the party membership.

Attempts to get a comment from the MKP were unsuccessful by the time of publication.

DAILY NEWS