By Sihle Mavuso
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has left the position of MEC for Social Development vacant as court battles and internal disputes within the National Freedom Party (NFP) continue to unfold.
Ntuli was widely expected to use Tuesday’s weekly provincial Cabinet meeting to appoint an acting MEC while Mbali Shinga fights to retain her seat in the provincial legislature and her position in government.
Shinga is challenging her expulsion from the NFP by party president Ivan Barnes and the party leadership in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
However, Ntuli made no appointment, leaving the portfolio without political leadership for almost two weeks.
Provincial government spokesperson Bongani Gina said the Premier had opted not to appoint an acting MEC because the matter remains before the courts.
“The matter relating to MEC Shinga’s membership of the Legislature is currently subject to ongoing legal processes, and it would therefore be inappropriate for the Provincial Government to comment on matters that are before the courts.
“With regard to the Executive Council, there has been no announcement or communication from the Premier regarding any changes to the composition of the Provincial Cabinet. Consequently, any speculation about a reshuffle would be premature.
“The Office of the Premier will be guided by the applicable constitutional and legal processes, as well as any official developments communicated through the appropriate channels. Should there be any decisions or changes affecting the Executive, such matters will be communicated formally by the Premier’s Office,” Gina said.
Shinga lost her seat in the provincial legislature at the end of last month after an NFP appeals board upheld her expulsion from the party.
The disciplinary action stemmed from allegations that she defied a directive issued by the NFP leadership on December 15 last year to vote in favour of removing Ntuli as premier.
She subsequently approached the High Court seeking to overturn her expulsion and interdict both the NFP and the Speaker of the Legislature from removing her from office.
The court did not grant the interdict but directed the parties to file urgent papers and responses by June 17, after which they may approach the Judge President for a hearing date.
Barnes confirmed to Inside Politics that the NFP met the June 9 deadline for filing its responding papers and is now awaiting Shinga’s replying affidavits.
Meanwhile, another internal battle has erupted within the party.
The mayor of the eDumbe Local Municipality, Sibusiso Mkhabela, has formally challenged the NFP’s decision to remove him as the party’s national chairperson.
Mkhabela, a staunch ally of Shinga, was removed after allegedly failing to attend party meetings.
In a letter to the NFP leadership, he described the decision as unconstitutional, procedurally defective and contrary to the democratic principles upon which the party was founded.
He warned that he would challenge the decision, although he did not specify what legal or internal remedies he intended pursuing.
“At the outset, I categorically reject this decision as constitutionally questionable, procedurally defective, and contrary to the democratic values upon which the National Freedom Party was established. The NFP does not belong to individuals, factions, or external political interests,” he said.
“The NFP belongs to its members, branches, structures, and the people who continue to believe in the vision of our founder, the late President Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi. Any attempt to capture the organisation through unconstitutional processes will be challenged.”
INSIDE POLITICS
