NFP Turmoil Threatens Stability of KZN GPU Government

Deep divisions in the National Freedom Party (NFP) have spilled into KwaZulu-Natal’s Government of Provincial Unity, with the fate of MEC Mbali Cynthia Shinga now hanging in the balance after her expulsion from the party.

TQ Correspondent

TURMOIL in the National Freedom Party (NFP) continues to cause instability in the KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity (GPU). The party’s sole seat in the provincial legislature has, until now, been occupied by Mbali Cynthia Shinga, who also serves as MEC for Social Development under the GPU deal.

Deepening crisis

Shinga has been found of guilty of charges that carry the ultimate sanction — the expulsion “red card.” This means she would be forced to vacate both her seat in the legislature and her position in the provincial executive. There are strong indications that Shinga intends to challenge the decision in court, a move that could prolong the crisis and deepen uncertainty in the GPU.

Attempts to secure comment from Shinga or her spokesperson were unsuccessful on Sunday.

But the disciplinary case against her stemmed from allegations of failing to follow the party line during a vote of no confidence against Premier Thami Ntuli.

The motion was brought by the MK Party, which has tried several to test strength of the KZN GPU, with the hope of toppling it and replacing with an MK-led administration.

That moment has become the flashpoint for bitter divisions within the NFP, with some members standing firmly behind Shinga, while others accuse her of disloyalty and blame her for the current crisis.

 In a statement issued by NFP president Irvin Barnes, the party has been vindicated: “The ruling further underscores a principle that lies at the heart of every democratic organisation: no individual member, irrespective of position or office, is above the Constitution of the organisation or the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.”

The KZN GPU came after the result of the May 2024 general election results, which put MK Party at just more than 45% of the provincial vote.

 Vulnerabilities

The fallout has left the KZN GPU vulnerable. The GPU was born out of the May 2024 provincial election, where the MK Party secured 45.35% of the vote — short of an outright majority — forcing coalition politics. The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) followed with 18.07%, the ANC with 16.99%, the DA with 13.36%, the EFF with 2.26%, and the NFP with just 0.56% and one seat. That single NFP seat, occupied by Mbali Cynthia Shinga, has become pivotal, but the party’s internal turmoil now threatens the razor-thin stability of the KZN GPU. TQ