DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal — The National Freedom Party (NFP) is grappling with a severe leadership crisis just weeks before the November local government elections, following the abrupt defection of roughly 200 members to the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). NFP KwaZulu-Natal provincial chairperson Mbali Shinga issued a stark warning from Durban, stating that the exodus of senior figures and elected councilors threatens to severely undermine the party’s electoral campaign and organizational stability.
The recent departures were formalized over the weekend when the IFP publicly welcomed the former NFP affiliates back into their ranks. Shinga expressed profound concern over the membership bleed, emphasizing that these individuals are not merely rank-and-file supporters but deployed representatives, including councilors, who command significant constituency influence. She implored remaining members to channel their grievances through internal party mechanisms rather than abandoning the organization, noting that electoral viability is fundamentally tied to maintaining numerical strength.
Compounding the defections is a protracted internal power struggle. The party has been plagued by ongoing disputes concerning leadership suspensions and the controversial removal of elected officials. Shinga disclosed that she recently attempted to broker peace by writing directly to NFP president Ivan Barnes, urging him to “bury the hatchet” and foster an organizational reset for the sake of the party’s late founder, Zanele kaMagwaza-Msiza.
That outreach, however, was firmly rebuffed. According to Shinga, Barnes declined the call for cooperation. She further alleged that the national leadership has actively disregarded the rule of law, pointing to a specific instance where a court order reinstating her was ignored, only for her to be suspended by the party shortly thereafter.
The current turmoil raises familiar concerns for NFP supporters, given the party’s history of administrative missteps that have previously jeopardized its ability to register for elections. This includes past disqualifications over factional disputes regarding which leadership faction was legitimately represented to the Electoral Commission (IEC).
When questioned on why voters should still trust the NFP amidst these recurring fractures, Shinga remained defiant. She insisted the party retains a unique capacity for service delivery rooted in the legacy of its late leadership. Rejecting the notion that this marks the end of the organization, she drew parallels to the NFP’s ability to survive similar internal squabbles during the 2016 election cycle.
Nevertheless, Shinga stressed that relying on past resilience is no longer a viable long-term strategy. Declaring KwaZulu-Natal as the party’s undeniable stronghold, she issued a direct appeal to national leadership to intervene, unify the fractured structures, and focus on the broader electoral picture before time runs out.
