Mbali Shinga Urges Members to Remain With the NFP After 200 Defect to IFP in KwaZulu-Natal
- Mbali Shinga addressed the recent mass departure of approximately 200 National Freedom Party members
- The members, which included some senior figures, left the NFP to join the Inkatha Freedom Party
- Shinga urged remaining members to stay within the NFP, but ironically, her own place is under dispute
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Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has spent a decade reporting on the South African political landscape, crime and social issues. He spent 10 years working for a community newspaper before transitioning to online
KWAZULU-NATAL - Mbali Shinga has urged National Freedom Party (NFP) members not to leave but instead raise any challenge within the NFP.
Shinga, a Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) and Social Development Member of the Executive Committee (MEC), made the appeal after approximately 200 party members crossed the floor to the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
Shinga urged those who remain to hold their ground within the NFP following the mass exodus that included senior party figures. Among those who defected were Sibusiso Mkhabela, the NFP's former national chairperson and mayor of eDumbe Local Municipality, as well as Teddy Thwala, reported to have served as the party's Secretary-General.
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Shinga denies knowledge of a breakaway party
Reports of a new political party linked to the NFP circulated ahead of the press conference, but Shinga distanced herself from any such formation.
“I will say to our members to remain within the NFP and raise challenges within. We are not aware of any political party that has been formed," she said.
She, however, acknowledged deep dissatisfaction within the party's ranks, pointing to the exclusion of members during local government preparations as a key driver of the unrest.
"Some members are excluded just on the basis that you are aligned with Shinga," she told reporters.
She added that as the provincial chairperson, all NFP members in the province fall within her sphere of leadership by definition. While calling on members not to leave, Shinga made clear she would back those willing to challenge the national leadership through formal channels.
Ironically, Shinga's own standing in the party remains the subject of active litigation. NFP national leadership has sought to suspend and remove her from her positions as KZN provincial chairperson, but interim court orders have continued to protect her in all three roles.
Shinga faced disciplinary action after she defied party orders. She was ordered to toe party lines during the Motion of No Confidence vote in Premier Thami Ntuli in December 2025.
Shinga refused to back the motion, and Ntuli remained in power as a result. On 7 January 2026, the NFP announced that it was withdrawing from the GPU and ordered Shinga to resign as MEC by the following day.
NFP suspends Shinga
Briefly News reported that the NFP provided an update about Shinga's status as a member of the party.
The party's acting Secretary-General, Sunset Bheki Xaba, also explained why the NFP was withdrawing from the GPU.
Social media users shared mixed reactions to the decision taken by the party concerning Shinga's conduct.
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Source: Briefly News
