The KwaZulu-Natal legislature has postponed the swearing-in of the National Freedom Party (NFP) leader, Ivan Barnes, due to an application by ANC legislator, Mbali Shinga. Shinga filed an application to refer a court order for a final determination. As a result, the legislature decided to suspend Barnes' swearing-in pending the outcome of Shinga's application. The postponement comes after weeks of tension between Shinga and the NFP leadership.
Mbali Shinga took to social media to express her continued commitment to her work as the MEC for Social Development. She posted a message stating that she will continue working for the people of KwaZulu-Natal despite attempts to unseat her. Shinga also shared a photo of herself during her swearing-in ceremony, emphasizing her ongoing dedication to her role. Her post was seen as a defiant move against the NFP leadership's attempts to have her removed.
The NFP leadership has since approached the court, seeking to have the legislature compelled to swear in Barnes. According to the NFP, there are no obstacles to Barnes' swearing-in, as Shinga was not granted the authority to refer the court order. The application will be heard at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on a date yet to be determined. This development has added to the ongoing tensions between Shinga and the NFP leadership.
The power struggle between Shinga and the NFP leadership began last year when she defied a directive to support a motion of no confidence against KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thami Ntuli. Shinga's removal from her position poses a threat to the provincial government's stability. The NFP's insistence on Shinga's removal has raised concerns about the potential impact on the province's governance.
The NFP currently holds one seat in the legislature. If the party were to withdraw from the provincial government, the balance of power would shift in favor of the opposition parties. The ANC and its allies would then have an equal number of seats to the opposition parties. This development has significant implications for the province's politics and governance.
In a separate development, Shinga was absent from the legislature on the day Barnes was scheduled to be sworn in. She had requested that the MEC for Agriculture, Thembeni ka Madlopha-Mthethwa, present her report on the concerns raised by the people of Newcastle. Shinga's absence was seen as a further indication of the ongoing tensions between her and the NFP leadership.
The KwaZulu-Natal legislature's decision to postpone Barnes' swearing-in has brought the province's politics to a standstill. The NFP leadership's determination to have Barnes sworn in, coupled with Shinga's refusal to step down, has created an uncertain future for the province's governance. The outcome of the court application will likely have far-reaching consequences for the province's politics and stability.
Key points
- The KwaZulu-Natal legislature has postponed the swearing-in of NFP leader Ivan Barnes due to an application by ANC legislator Mbali Shinga.
- The NFP leadership has approached the court, seeking to have the legislature compelled to swear in Barnes.
- The power struggle between Shinga and the NFP leadership has significant implications for the province's governance and stability.
