By Celani Sikhakhane
- Police intervened after NFP president Ivan Barnes was removed from a media briefing in Durban over party infighting.
- KZN NFP leaders say they will not remove MEC Mbali Shinga and reject national leadership pressure.
Police were called to intervene at an NFP media briefing in Durban on Wednesday after party leaders removed their own president from the event.
The briefing was meant to update the media after a meeting between the NFP and the ANC. The ANC had called the meeting to discuss the NFP’s decision to quit the Government of Provincial Unity in KwaZulu-Natal.
Barnes was expected to speak at the briefing, but he was removed before addressing the media.
NFP national chairperson Musawenkosi Mkhabela said the party’s KwaZulu-Natal leadership would not allow any action against MEC for Social Development Mbali Shinga.
He said Shinga is one of the best performing MECs in the provincial government.
“Our problem is with the national leadership,” Mkhabela said. “They are interfering in KZN matters and trying to destroy the party.”
He accused Barnes of trying to push the NFP towards working with the MK party.
Mkhabela said Barnes was campaigning for MK, which he said is not the NFP’s political home.
“No one will touch Mbali Shinga,” he said. “We are protecting the legacy of our founder Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi.”
Shinga has been suspended as an NFP member and is due to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee on 14 January.
Her hearing was postponed last week.
The NFP national leadership has instructed Shinga to resign as MEC after deciding to work with the MK party.
However, the KZN leadership has made it clear they will not support her removal.
Pictured above: NFP leaders remove party president Ivan Barnes from a media briefing in Durban.
Image source: Celani Sikhakhane
