The National Freedom Party has confirmed Mbali Shinga’s expulsion
Image: SIGCINIWE
The National Freedom Party (NFP) and Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga are headed for a legal showdown after she vowed to fight her dismissal from the party.
This is after the NFP revealed yesterday that it has written to the Speaker of the KZN legislature to inform her that Ivan Barnes will be replacing Shinga, the party's former provincial chairperson, as a member in the provincial legislature.
The latest development has put the future of the government of provincial unity (GPU) in jeopardy, with the NFP stating it is intent on pulling out of the political arrangement. The GPU is made up of the IFP, ANC, DA and the NFP.
Shinga’s appeal was dismissed by the party’s appeal board. On Saturday, the party announced that the appeals committee chairperson had dismissed Shinga’s appeal and upheld her earlier expulsion from the party.
Yesterday, speaking through her attorney, Sithembiso Mbhele, Shinga vowed to go to court to challenge the latest decision on her political career. Mbhele said he has been instructed by Shinga to file papers in court today, describing the appeals chairperson’s decision as long predetermined.
He claimed that the appeals committee chairperson “frustrated Shinga’s appeal from day one by refusing to provide the transcript of the hearing to the legal team to formulate arguments for the appeal.”
Instead of being given a transcribed hearing, the chairperson of the disciplinary committee provided audio clips.
He claimed there was not even an appeal before the decision was taken, saying on Friday he sent the heads of argument detailing his client’s grounds for the appeal, which she was going to present during the sitting.
However, on Saturday, the legal team received the news that the appeal had been dismissed.
He said Shinga is challenging the powers of the party’s national working committee, as the party’s constitution states that the party’s highest decision-making structure is the general conference.
The party’s Secretary-General, Sunset Xaba, did not respond to questions regarding the party’s response to Shinga’s legal threat; however, he confirmed the dismissal of Shinga’s appeal. In a statement issued by Xaba on Saturday, he said the party welcomed the ruling, which he said confirmed both the findings of guilt and the sanction of expulsion imposed following disciplinary proceedings.
He said the tribunal carefully considered all submissions made by the appellant (Shinga) and the respondent, including allegations relating to the composition of party structures, procedural fairness, the powers of the National Executive Committee (NEC), and the authority of the disciplinary and appeals processes.
“After a thorough examination of the evidence, applicable legal principles, and the constitution of the National Freedom Party, the tribunal found no basis to overturn the original decision. Importantly, the tribunal reaffirmed that the disciplinary proceedings stem from Shinga’s decision to defy a party instruction to vote alongside the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK Party) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)in support of a motion of no confidence against KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli on December 15, 2025.”
Analysts said Shinga’s ouster could create a stalemate in the legislature but will have no impact in the cabinet.
NFP spokesperson Romeo Dladla said, “Shinga is released from her duties as both the chairperson and MEC for Social development. The NFP is still not part of the GPU, and we still maintain pulling out of the KZN GPU.”
Political analyst Siyabonga Ntombela said the power struggle within the NFP is about positions.
“(Party leader Ivan) Barnes wants to represent the NFP in the KZN legislature and carry out the ‘party mandate’ to pull out of the GPU. The GPU should be prepared to give in to Mr Barnes’s demands, which I suspect will be unreasonable given his relentless effort to oust Ms Shinga.”
Another analyst, Professor Musa Xulu, said Shinga may still take the matter to the courts, and that is where finality will be settled.
“However, if she loses there, KZN may end up with a 50% GPU, leading to stalemates in the Legislature, but not in the Cabinet. Premier Thami Ntuli may appoint a new MEC from those political parties who are already in the GPU, especially the ANC,” he said.
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