IFP reaches out to NFP as KwaZulu-Natal coalition government faces collapse
With just one seat in the 80-member legislature, the National Freedom Party (NFP) has become the toast of the town as parties on all sides are courting it for a coalition. On Saturday, the party is that has become the default kingmaker in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature is expected to meet the ANC and uMkhonto weSizwe Party. The NFP is facing its own internal turmoil with provincial chairperson, Mbali Shinga (left) fighting a disciplinary hearing after defying party president Ivan Barnes (right) on the vote of no-confidence on KZN Premier Thami Ntuli (centre).
Image: IOL Graphics
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which leads the KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), has swallowed its pride and reached out to its breakaway partner, the National Freedom Party (NFP), seeking urgent talks amid growing instability in the provincial government.
The IFP has written to the NFP requesting a meeting on either February 9 or February 16, a move confirmed by an NFP leader who is not authorised to speak publicly. The request follows the NFP's decision to withdraw from the GPU, a development that has placed the future of the provincial administration in jeopardy.
In a letter written by IFP national chairperson and chief whip Blessed Gwala, the party’s negotiating team formally asked for an audience with the NFP leadership to discuss relations within the GPU.
"The negotiating team of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) kindly requests an audience with the National Freedom Party (NFP) to discuss matters relating to relations within the GPU," the letter reads. Proposed meeting times are 08h00 or 14h00 in Durban on either of the suggested dates.
The request comes after the NFP declined to meet GPU partners collectively, opting instead for bilateral engagements. The party has already held separate discussions with the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).
NFP secretary-general Sunset Xaba said the party wanted to first engage the IFP directly before any collective GPU meeting could take place.
Meanwhile, the NFP is expected to meet the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) on Saturday. The MKP, which secured 37 seats in the 80-seat KwaZulu-Natal legislature in the May 2024 national and provincial elections, is seeking to wrest control of the legislature with the support of the Economic Freedom Fighters' two seats and the NFP’s single seat, potentially creating a deadlocked 40–40 split.
The MKP and EFF have already tabled a motion of no confidence against Premier Thami Ntuli. This triggered disciplinary action against NFP legislator and MEC for Social Development Mbali Shinga, who defied party president Ivan Barnes by refusing to support the motion. Shinga has also ignored a directive to resign from the executive and has obtained a court order preventing the party from removing her.
The IFP's approach follows shortly on a viral video of Barnes attacking the IFP's member of the national executive committee Thulasizwe Buthelezi, who is also the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KZN. Barnes is heard in the video saying he wants nothing to do with Buthelezi.
The two go back a long way, since their days in the IFP Youth Brigade where both were asked to withdraw from the leadership race in December 2008 to avoid a fallout during the party's 30th National Annual Conference.
In 2024, there were murmurs that Barnes would replace Buthelezi as the mayor of Zululand, following the latter's appointment to the legislature. The plan did not materialise.