NFP backs no-confidence motion against KZN Premier, threatening GPU coalition

THE KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) is facing a new storm after the National Freedom Party (NFP) has thrown its weight behind the motion of no-confidence on Premier Thami Ntuli.

The NFP were the kingmakers who held the balance for the GPU after the 2024 general elections. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) which received the most votes didn't form part of the provincial government.

The NFP's about-turn on the GPU follows that of the ANC Youth League that has urged the provincial ANC to leave the GPU.

The NFP is a splinter party that broke away from the IFP, when relations soured between the president of the IFP and then-chaiperson of the party, the late Zanele kaMagwaza Msibi who formed the party as its founding president.

The NFP has one provincial seat in the KZN legislature and their sole seat, gives a minimal advantage of 41 seats to the GPU that is led by the IFP instead of the MKP in the legislature.

The KZN legislature is made up of 80 seats.

The MKP has 37 seats in the legislature and has recently also filed a motion of no-confidence on the premier and is urging other parties to support its motion.

The party is followed by the IFP with 15 seats, ANC (14), DA (11) and EFF (2). With the NFP now wanting to join the MKP and the EFF, it will mean the three parties have 40 seats in the legislature, leaving the ANC, IFP and the DA with the same number of seats.

Ivan Barnes, the NFP's president said it would be better if the MKP took over as they had the most votes in KZN during the elections. Barnes said the GPU has failed to deliver on its promises.

"When the GPU was formed, it was agreed that we would with the understanding of prioritising service delivery and to attract investors. The GPU promised that municipalities would work closer with communities. Unfortunately, what we see happening is totally against what was promised when the coaltion government was formed."

Barnes said there have never been meetings where there are assessments on the performance of all deployees from different parties who are in the provincial executive.

The NFP leader accused the premier of unjustifiable overseas travel. He also accused GPU partners of backstabbing. He cited incidents of at municipal level where the GPU agreements are not being respected with some GPU partners ousting each other through motions of no-confidence.

A prominent leader within the NFP who spoke on condition of anonymity, rejected Barnes' claims.

"Barnes is still fighting the issue of not being given the position of Zululand Municipality Mayor by the IFP. The NFP will continue being part of the coalition government," said the leader.

The party is facing internal turmoil as its president, recently failed in his attempt to remove its member Mbali Shinga, as a member of the provincial legislature and as the MEC of Social Development.

The secretary of the National Freedom Party (NFP)’s national deployment committee, Zoe Mtshali, has allayed fears of the removal of Shinga, who distanced herself from Barnes' Sunday statement about the motion of no-confidence against Ntuli.

However, Mtshali disputed Barnes, saying that there is no party resolution to abandon the GPU. She also clarified that there is no decision to remove Shinga from her legislature seat and as MEC. Mtshali further stated that for Shinga to be removed from both her seat and her MEC position, the deployment committee, not Barnes or the national executive committee (NEC), will decide.

She explained that the deployment committee is an independent structure from the NEC and it is the one that has the power to deploy and recall any member from their deployment, not the president or the NEC.-Additional reporting by Willem Phungula

SUNDAY TRIBUNE