An ambitious plan by National Freedom Party (NFP) president Irvin Barnes to assume top echelons in Zululand district municipality at all costs has divided the party.
The NFP, formed in 2011 by the late Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, surprised many when it emerged from the doldrums to command kingship status in the newly constituted KwaZulu-Natal government of provincial unity (GPU).
This enabled the IFP to lead the provincial government while the GPU partners, comprising the DA, ANC, and NFP, were rewarded with executive posts.
Zululand mayoral position
Only NFP provincial chairperson Mbali Shinga was accommodated in the new pact assigned to the portfolio of social development as MEC, while Barnes was expected to be given a mayoral post in the Zululand district.
The post became vacant when Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi was announced as the new MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs.
The IFP subsequently outsmarted its traditional political foes, fielding its own candidate, Michael Khumalo, to fill the position, leaving Barnes fuming with anger.
He said that in the aftermath of the developments, his party would revise its decision to join the GPU.
“We decided to support the IFP in good faith, but they have proved to be an untrusted partner. They are kicking the NFP in the back,” said Barnes.
He also called for the IFP chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal and premier Thami Ntuli to intervene and nullify the decision by the IFP Zululand constituency to assign Khumalo to the key post.
The party’s national executive committee, the highest decision-making body, also moved to revise the IFP’s relationship and future participation in the GPU.
Personal crusade
Other senior parties are now singing a different tune and accusing Barnes of being on his own personal crusade, which the party has not endorsed.
Nhlanhla Thwala, the NFP secretary-general, lashed out: “The party is not prepared to entertain individual ambitions because, as it stands, we do not have an agreement with the IFP that stipulates that we will get the mayorship of Zululand district in exchange for our participation in the provincial government.
“We would not allow the wishes of voters to be sacrificed because of an individual’s personal enrichment drive.”
If the NFP decides to pull out of the GPU, it will lead to the collapse of the coalition.
The party has its back against the wall because if it joins the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, which has 37 seats, and the EFF, which has two seats, it will take the tally to 40 seats, falling short of a seat, to form a government.
