Brewing tensions in the government of provincial unity (GPU) in KwaZulu-Natal continue after a recent failed bid by the National Freedom Party (NFP) to remove its only member of the legislature, Mbali Shinga. Shinga was instrumental in the MK Party’s failed bid to remove premier Thami Ntuli in a motion of no confidence when she abstained from the vote against her party’s wishes. The NFP, thought to be the kingmaker, announced in October it was leaving the GPU to join the MK Party in its attempt to oust the provincial government.
However, the bid by former president Jacob Zuma’s MK Party and the EFF failed earlier this month. This led to the NFP writing to KwaZulu-Natal legislature speaker Nontembeko Boyce, informing her that Shinga had been suspended from the party and was therefore not eligible to represent it in the legislature. This was rejected by Boyce, who referred the party to section 106 (3) of the constitution, which states that a person loses membership of the legislature if that person ceases to be eligible to be a member of the legislature, is absent from the legislature without permission or ceases to be a member of the party that nominated that person as a member.
The ANC, which is part of the GPU, was quick to commend the speaker on Sunday. It said the speaker emphasised that constitutional and legislative provisions must guide the removal of any elected representative and that Shinga had not violated any rules of the legislature. “The speaker rightly emphasised that any actions concerning the removal of elected representatives must be guided by constitutional and legislative provisions, rather than internal party decisions.
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“The ANC applauds the speaker’s commitment to uphold the doctrine of separation of powers, demonstrating that she values the legislature as an institution above party political interests. This approach not only strengthens the rule of law but also protects the integrity of our democratic processes.” This could lead to internal bickering in the NFP between its leader, Ivan Barnes, and Shinga, who have disagreed on whether the party should stay in the GPU. The ANC cautioned parties to resolve their internal matters independently, without involving the legislature.
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