Fists fly during NFP's disciplinary hearing against MEC and KZN MPL

THE disciplinary hearing of National Freedom Party (NFP) member and KwaZulu-Natal social development MEC Mbali Shinga descended into chaos when her supporters and party leader Ivan Barnes exchanged blows in a fistfight at Durban's Edward Hotel on Wednesday. 

Shinga is being hauled before a disciplinary hearing over claims that she had violated the party's instruction to vote for a motion of no confidence in KZN Premier Thami Ntuli. 

The hearing was taking place at the hotel when her supporters stormed inside the venue and demanded that the party's national executive committee (NEC) stop the process.

It was at this stage that Barnes and Manqoba Dlamini, the chairperson of the party's uThukela district, became embroiled in a fist fight with the police intervening to separate the sets of supporters. Shinga's supporters then left the building.

The NFP’s NEC had said it will leave the KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) if Shinga is not removed both as an MEC and a member of the legislature.

The NFP’s acting Secretary-General Sunset Xaba had said his party has agreed to meet with the ANC but would only return to the GPU if Shinga is removed. 

Shinga’s problems began last month when she refused to toe party line and vote to remove the premier. 

Xaba had said they are still committed to the GPU, but they will tell the ANC that the GPU partners must stop protecting Shinga if they still want his party in the arrangement.

Cape Times