National Freedom Party leader says suspension was unlawful

By Celani Sikhakhane

• Mbali Shinga says the National Freedom Party acted unlawfully and still has not returned the powers she got from the party conference.

• The National Freedom Party suspended Shinga for three months after she voted with the governing coalition instead of backing the uMkhonto weSizwe Party.

KwaZulu-Natal National Freedom Party chairperson Mbali Shinga says her party treated her unlawfully after failing to bring her back when her suspension ended.

Shinga spoke on Wednesday after the three month suspension expired on 19 March 2026.

She said she still had no word from the party’s top leaders. She said nobody had told her what would happen next. She also said she had not been allowed to return to the duties she was given by the party conference.

Shinga is also the KwaZulu-Natal social development member of the executive council.

She was suspended after a dramatic vote in the provincial legislature on 15 December. On that day, she voted with the Inkatha Freedom Party, African National Congress and Democratic Alliance coalition.

That vote helped the Government of Provincial Unity keep a narrow 41 seat majority in the 80 seat legislature. It also stopped the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and Economic Freedom Fighters from taking control.

The National Freedom Party wanted her to vote with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party. When she refused, the party suspended her from all activities for three months and started disciplinary steps against her.

Shinga said she did not act for party politics. She said she followed the constitution.

She then challenged the suspension in court.

Since then, the National Freedom Party has pulled out of the KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity. It also told Shinga to resign as a member of the executive council. She has refused to do that and the fight has deepened.

Speaking to Scrolla.Africa, Shinga said: “The unlawful suspension expired on the 19th of March. I haven’t heard from the National Executive Committee of the National Freedom Party. I think they don’t know what to do now because they had done something unlawful. I have not been re-instated to my responsibilities and mandate that was bestowed to me by the conference.”

Acting secretary general Bheki Xaba said the disciplinary process was still under way on Wednesday, but he did not give details.

He said: “I am not in that meeting. Kindly call Dladla to assist you with more details because he is part of that meeting.”

Attempts to reach party administrator Themba Dladla failed. His phone rang without answer and he did not reply to WhatsApp messages.

The dispute centres on Shinga’s refusal to support a move to remove KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli and transport and human settlements member of the executive council Siboniso Duma.

Pictured above: KwaZulu-Natal National Freedom Party chairperson Mbali Shinga, whose suspension has ended after she defied her party’s voting instruction.

Image source: KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier