NFP suspends KZN MEC Mbali Shinga for defying party directive
Mbali Shinga, the NFP’s KwaZulu-Natal PEC chairperson and MEC for Social Development, has been suspended for three months following alleged defiance of party instructions during a legislature vote
Image: Mbali Ntuli / X
The National Freedom Party (NFP) has suspended its KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Committee chairperson, Mbali Shinga, with immediate effect.
Shinga also serves as the MEC for Social Development in the provincial government.
The suspension comes after Shinga’s conduct in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, where she is part of the Government of Provincial Unity.
It follows decision her decision to defy a directive from NFP president Ivan Barnes during a vote on the MK Party’s motion of no confidence against IFP provincial chairperson and Premier Thami Ntuli.
In a statement released to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Sunday, the NFP confirmed that Shinga’s membership had been suspended pending the outcome of a disciplinary enquiry.
The suspension takes immediate effect and will run for a period of three months.
As a result, Shinga has been barred from all party activities. NFP national administrator Romeo Dladla said she had been withdrawn from all NFP programmes, activities and engagements pending the conclusion of the disciplinary process.
“In line with this suspension, which carries a period of three months, she has been removed from the NWC group and shall not participate until the disciplinary process has been concluded,” Dladla said.
“This communication serves as a formal notification to the National Working Committee regarding the suspension of the KwaZulu-Natal PEC chairperson, who also serves as the MEC for Social Development,” he added.
“Effective immediately, her membership affiliation with the National Freedom Party is suspended.”
The party said the decision was taken in line with its constitutional obligations and internal processes.
Dladla said the NFP remained committed to “upholding discipline, unity and constitutional integrity,” and called on members to respect the decision while continuing to advance the organisation’s mission of renewal and accountability.
According to African Times, Shinga has confirmed receipt of the suspension letter and indicated that she intends to challenge the decision.
“I received a letter from the National Working Committee yesterday. I am meeting with my lawyers to discuss the matter,” Shinga said.
“We will surely challenge the matter in court, as we live in a constitutional democracy where the rights of citizens are respected,” she added.
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