NFP Withdraws From KZN Government of Provincial Unity, Orders Mbali Shinga to Resign From MEC Post

• The National Freedom Party has made a decision about its participation from KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity
• The party holds one seat in the province, and its member, Mbali Shinga, is a Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for Social Development
• The party has been working with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

KWAZULU-NATAL – The National Freedom Party (NFP) is withdrawing from the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) with immediate effect.

The NFP was part of the GPU and was aligned with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA). The NFP had one seat, while ANC had 14 seats, the DA had 11 seat, and the IFP had 15 seats.

Read also

Helen Zille to step down as DA Federal Council Chairperson To Focus On Joburg mayoral bid, SA reacts

The party’s only Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), Mbali Shinga, holds the position of Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Social Development as a result of the coalition, but the party wants her to resign as well.

NFP withdraws from KZN GPU

In an official correspondence addressed to Shinga, the party’s Acting Secretary General, Sunset Bheki Xaba, confirmed that the party would withdraw from the GPU with immediate effect.

The decision was made at a National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting on 5 January 2026. According to the statement, the NEC also determined that Shinga’s deployment as an MEC could no longer be sustained.

“Accordingly, you are hereby instructed to tender your resignation from the position of MEC for Social Development in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government by 8 January 2026 at 9 am,” the statement read.

Shinga suspended by NFP

The NFP's frustration with Mshinga came after she did not comply with party orders. The party also ordered her to toe the line during the Motion of No Confidence vote in KZN Premier Thami Ntuli in December 2025.

Mshinga did not do that, forcing the party to take the decision to suspend her. Shinga refused to back the motion, and Ntuli remained in power as a result.

Read also

SANDF and Border Management Authority receive major funding boost in Finance Minister's 2026 Budget

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) wanted to try to remove Ntuli. The party has 39 seats between them, but needs 41 to take control of the province.

With the NFP's vote as well, both coalitions would have 40 seats.

Other stories about the motion of no-confidence vote in Ntuli

Briefly News has covered several articles about the chaotic sitting in the KZN Legislature and the aftermath of it.

• The KZN Speaker, Nontembeko Nothemba Boyce, denied the application for the vote to be conducted via secret ballot.
• Thami Ntuli remained the KZN Premier after the sitting in the Legislature descended into chaos.
• The MK Party promised to return with another motion against the Premier after their first one ended in chaos.

Source: Briefly News