‘The gloves are off’: Mbali Shinga threatens court action as NFP power struggle intensifies

National Freedom Party (NFP) KwaZulu-Natal chairperson, Mbali Shinga, has threatened to take legal action against the party's internal disputes as tensions rise ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. Shinga has been at odds with suspended NFP President Ivan Barnes and the national leadership. She has stated that she will defend her constitutional rights and the rights of NFP members through lawful means, including the courts, indicating that she is prepared for court action.

Shinga argues that her membership and representation in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature have been unjustly targeted and that she remains the party's chairperson, elected in September 2023. She accuses the NFP leadership of weakening the organization through removals, suspensions, expulsions, and the displacement of established structures.

Shinga also criticized the use of the term "abahambe," which she sees as encouraging the departure of those who oppose the leadership. She warned that the NFP risks losing political ground to its competitors if it continues to lose leaders, councillors, activists, and members without rebuilding its structures. Shinga also vowed to challenge attempts to exclude candidates from the NFP's election lists based on their political alignment with her or other leaders opposed to Barnes, demanding written reasons for such exclusions.