By Celani Sikhakhane
- Barnes told supporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday that Shinga is no longer an NFP member and he is next in line for her seat.
- Shinga’s urgent court bid to block her replacement failed, with the judge ruling the matter was not urgent and postponing it to a date still to be set.
Ivan Barnes is ready. The NFP president says he is waiting for one thing — a date from the KZN Legislature Speaker to be sworn in as the party’s new Legislature member, replacing fired MEC Mbali Shinga.
Barnes made his position clear to supporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday, where Shinga had tried and failed to urgently block her replacement.
“I am ready to be sworn in and Shinga is no longer a member since she has been fired from the NFP,” Barnes said.
“I am waiting for the date of my swearing in.”
Barnes will play a key role in the MKP and EFF’s bid to bring down the Government of Provincial Unity, led by the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP. Shinga’s seat is the number they need.
She blocked the MKP’s first attempt — a motion of no confidence against Premier Thami Ntuli in December 2025 — by refusing to vote with her own party.
The court did not help her on Wednesday. The Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled her urgent application was not urgent and postponed the matter to a date still to be set.
Both parties must now file papers on the merits. The NFP files by 9 June, Shinga by 12 June, with heads of argument due by 17 June.
Shinga told her own supporters outside court that she had been directed to go back to work and that the Speaker cannot act while the matter is still before the court. She accused Barnes of sneaking a revised party list to the Speaker’s office to fast-track his swearing in.
For now she remains in both positions. NFP caucus manager Innocent Shezi confirmed Shinga continues as MEC and Legislature member, and said no one would be sworn in to replace her. The national NFP, though, maintains she is expelled.
Pictured above: NFP president Ivan Barnes says he is ready to be sworn in to replace Mbali Shinga in the KZN Legislature.
Image source: NFP/Facebook
