NFP suspends KZN chair Shinga over no-confidence vote defiance

The National Freedom Party (NFP) suspended its KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) chairperson, Mbali Shinga, pending the finalisation of a disciplinary inquiry. 

Shinga, who is also the MEC for social development in KZN, was charged with disobeying party instructions during a vote of no-confidence against Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli.  

The party's leadership briefed the media in Durban about its decision on Friday.

Shinga’s membership was also suspended for three months. 

The NFP said it resolved to suspend Shinga for disobeying a national executive committee (NEC) decision to support the motion of no-confidence against Ntuli last month. 

At the time, the NFP supported the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s motion and ordered Shinga to vote in support. 

But things took a different turn when she opposed a secret ballot for the motion, as preferred by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). 

During a press briefing by senior party leaders on Friday, they announced that she had been suspended.

Acting NFP Secretary-General Bheki Xaba said, "The NFP will never betray the integrity, selflessness and revolutionary ethics of Zanele Magwaza Msibi, its founder. The NFP refuses collaboration, silence and comfort purchased at the price of betrayal." 

Shinga is yet to comment on the matter.