Nationwide Freedom Celebration president Ivan Barnes. (Nationwide Freedom Celebration/ Fb)
Renewed infighting has damaged out among the many Nationwide Freedom Celebration (NFP) management, which may destabilise the KwaZulu-Natal authorities of provincial unity by which the embattled get together is a key participant.
Late final month NFP president Ivan Barnes suspended secretary common Teddy Thwala for a second time, regardless of an interdict having been issued by the Pietermaritzburg excessive courtroom in July over the preliminary try to take away a lot of get together leaders.
Thwala has retaliated by issuing letters of demand to Barnes and different NFP leaders who attended a gathering at which the choice to droop him was taken and has given them discover of his intention to problem its legality.
HIs legal professionals have additionally put Barnes on phrases over the try to droop Thwala and have threatened to have the courtroom implement the present order ought to the NFP president not withdraw the letter of suspension.
Factions led by Barnes and Thwala have been at loggerheads because the loss of life of get together founder Zanele Magwaza-Msibi in 2021. Infighting and monetary instability noticed the get together narrowly keep away from being stored off the poll for the 29 Might nationwide and provincial elections.
The NFP survived and took a single seat within the 81 member KwaZulu-Natal legislature however was capable of safe an MEC place for its sole member of the provincial legislature, Mbali Shinga, due to the steadiness of energy within the province after the elections.
Its single seat provides the federal government of provincial unity consisting of itself, the Inkatha Freedom Celebration, the ANC and the Democratic Alliance management of the legislature and allowed them to elect Thami Ntuli as premier.
The NFP seat provides the provincial unity authorities a tiny — however efficient — majority over the uMkhonto weSizwe get together and the Financial Freedom Fighters, however its inner battles are a risk to the steadiness of the governance association.
Late final month Barnes served Thwala with a discover of instant “resuspension” on the bottom that he had didn’t attend three consecutive nationwide govt committee conferences.
Barnes mentioned Thwala had “colluded” with members of the NFP’s electoral committee to “fabricate” a report on the elections and was responsible of inflicting “havoc, destruction and instability” within the get together.
Thwala had additionally taken the get together to courtroom and had tried to disband its democratically elected management, whereas on the identical time trying to “block the get together from taking part within the 2024 nationwide and provincial elections”, Barnes mentioned.
Barnes mentioned the NFP nationwide working committee had resolved to droop him instantly over his behaviour, which was in violation of part 5.2 of the get together’s structure.
“You’re subsequently notified that the NFP, by the NWC decision, hereby re-suspend you forthwith instantly pending the result of an intensive investigation in respect of the misconduct dedicated by your self,” Barnes mentioned within the letter, including {that a} disciplinary listening to would then happen.
However Thwala wrote to Barnes final week reminding him of the courtroom order, issued on 22 July this yr, prohibiting him from suspending him, pending the ultimate listening to on the matter on 19 September.
“I word that you just elect to stick with the illegal conduct which you had been interdicted [not] to take. I’ll transient and instruct my attorneys to take care of this matter must you fail to retract the letter. I belief that it’s going to not go that far,” Thwala wrote.
Thwala additionally wrote to NFP nationwide chairperson Sibusiso Mkhabela and get together constructions informing them that the assembly which determined to droop him was not lawfully constituted.
He demanded information of all conferences and choices taken by the construction because the December 2023 elective convention.
Thwala and different NFP leaders are difficult the result of the convention, which was held to fulfill circumstances for participation within the election imposed by the Electoral Fee of South Africa.
The NFP additionally faces potential liquidation by Ezulweni Investments over an unpaid R25 million debt it owes from the 2019 elections, and has additionally been taken to courtroom by considered one of its former workers, Thembinkosi Ngcamu, for R1.2 million in unpaid wages.
When it comes to a courtroom order issued in Might, the NFP has to pay Ngcamu for wages it owes him from June 2017 to February 2023. It additionally has to again pay his wage from March 2023 till Might 2024.
On the time of writing, it had failed to take action.
Barnes didn’t reply to calls and messages from the Mail & Guardian.
Thwala declined to remark.