DURBAN - THE National Freedom Party has replaced its legislature member Vikizitha Mlotshwa, who resigned, after months of wrangling over who should be sworn in as their new member.
Mbali Shinga is the new NFP legislature member after she was sworn in by the Speaker Nontembeko Boyce in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
The party’s only seat has been vacant since August after Mlotshwa, who was also a provincial chairperson, resigned as both a legislature member and chairperson, leaving the factions within the NFP fighting over who should replace him.
It is alleged that national party leadership wanted to give the position to someone else, but the provincial structure wanted Shinga to succeed Mlotshwa as she was number two on the revised list.
The Daily News learnt that before her death, Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi had written to the Legislature Speaker and informed them that she should not swear in anyone until the party agreed on the name. This prompted Shinga to file papers in the Pietermaritzburg High Court to challenge the decision. The matter was due to be heard in court on the date of kaMagwaza-Msibi’s death, which further delayed the matter until last Friday, where the court declared Shinga as the member to take up the seat.
Secretary-General Canaan Mdletshe confirmed that initially, national leadership wanted to deploy someone else but resolved that Shinga should take up the seat. He also confirmed that the late president did write to the Speaker asking to delay swearing-in until the party had agreed on a name.
“We did not even oppose her (Shinga) application in court because we have already accepted that she must take up the seat,” said Mdletshe.
Provincial secretary Zandile Myeni said she was happy and confident that Shinga would represent the party well, adding that she was also excited that the party had chosen a woman. Shinga is also a businesswoman from the South Coast and currently the party's regional secretary. She has vowed to fight for youth and women in the small business sector, adding that she would work with all party structures without looking at who was against her swearing-in.
Daily News