NFP says its own rebels have a ‘plan B’ and it involves a new party

By Celani Sikhakhane

• NFP Secretary-General Sunset Xaba says suspended KZN secretary Zodwa Mtshali and fired chairperson Shevu Mkhabela have secretly registered a new party with Mbali Shinga’s expelled faction.

• Mtshali rejected the claim, saying no new party can register after an election is called. The IEC says that is wrong.

The National Freedom Party says some of its own leaders are building a way out, and they are not being subtle about it.

The trouble started when the party expelled Mbali Shinga, its former KwaZulu-Natal chairperson and MEC for Social Development, and removed her from her seat in the provincial Legislature. The leaders who stood by her are now being pushed out too.

NFP Secretary-General Sunset Xaba told Scrolla.Africa on Tuesday that suspended KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Zodwa Mtshali, fired national chairperson Shevu Mkhabela, and other expelled members have already registered a new political party.

“We know that they have plan B,” Xaba said.

“I wonder why they don’t just quit rather than causing havoc and instability in the organisation we are working hard to rebuild.”

Mtshali was suspended on Sunday. Mkhabela was fired as national chairperson at the weekend. Both had openly backed Mbali Shinga, the former MEC for Social Development who was expelled from the NFP and removed from her seat in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature.

Xaba said Mtshali violated the party’s constitution and code of conduct by issuing a public statement in support of Shinga without the knowledge or approval of the provincial executive committee.

He accused her of pushing for Shinga to become party president and working with her faction to remove the national executive committee.

Mtshali denied everything. She said she knows nothing about a new party, and argued that registration would not even be legally possible now that the election date has been announced.

That argument does not hold. The Electoral Commission of South Africa says party registration never officially closes. A party wanting to contest the 4 November 2026 local government elections must submit its application by the end of June 2026 due to a two-month processing requirement. The registration window is still open.

Mkhabela, who is also mayor of eDumbe Local Municipality, earlier led a group that stormed a hotel in Durban to halt Shinga’s disciplinary hearing. He also held a media briefing attacking the party leadership.

The NFP is expected to move to remove him as mayor. He did not respond to requests for comment.

Pictured above: Former NFP KZN Chairperson Mbali Shinga is fighting her expulsion in court as her allies face suspension and dismissal from the party.

Image source: Supplied