Fists fly as NFP meeting descends into chaos

The NFP's national chairperson Shevu Mkhabela broke ranks with embattled party president, Ivan Barnes and called for his removal on Wednesday.

In an impromptu media briefing at the Edward Hotel in Durban, Mkhabela and the party’s provincial executive committee members threw their weight behind another party leader Mbali Shinga, who is also the Social Development MEC in the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU). 

Mkhabela’s media address was preceded by dramatic scenes of a fist fight between Barnes and the party’s Uthukela district chairperson Manqoba Dlamini over the continuation of Shinga’s disciplinary hearing.  Police had to be called to separate the two.

The drama took place while Shinga’s disciplinary was underway, at the same hotel. Outside the venue more than a hundred party members were singing songs in support of Shinga, with some carrying placards that read 'hands off Shinga'.

Mkhabela who is also the eDumbe Local Municipality mayor, lashed out at Barnes and accused him of being the project of 'a certain political party' to cause instability in the GPU and in the province.

He called for Barnes' removal, saying the party’s constitution allows it to recall the president for amongst other things, violating the constitution.

He stated that Barnes has interfered with the work of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) and the branches by charging Shinga, arguing that Section 11 of the party’s constitution stipulates that a member must be charged by his or her branch.

He said that even removing Shinga should have been processed by the party’s PEC not the National Executive Committee.

“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.

Barnes’ rejection comes amid the expected meeting between him and other parties in the GPU (DA  and ANC) this weekend.

Barnes has threatened to remove the NFP from the GPU which could upset the political balance in the province and result in an early election.

After recently announcing the formal withdrawal of his party from the GPU, the ANC and DA requested meetings with him. 

On Wednesday the IFP, which is the leading party in the GPU, also announced its intention to meet with Barnes and his executive. In a media briefing on Wednesday, the IFP's national chairperson Blessed Gwala dismissed the suggestions by the NFP, that his party had undermined the NFP national leadership by refusing to engage.

Gwala said the agreement was that the provincial leadership of parties would continue to engage from time to time, adding that the IFP has been engaging with Shinga as the provincial leader of the NFP. 

The IFP also revealed that Barnes had asked to be appointed a Minister by President Cyril Ramaphosa as part of the agreement to join the GPU but that this suggestion was rejected.

“We are going to meet Barnes and his executive because we want to hear what the problem is. We want to dispel the suggestion that we reneged from the agreement we reached in the negotiations to form the GPU. It is not true,” said Gwala.

NFP Secretary-General Sunset Xaba did not respond for a request to comment on the chaotic events that took place at Wednesday's party meeting and outside Shinga's disciplinary hearing.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za