KZN legislature starts process to replace Mbali Shinga

KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga at Zakhe Child and Youth Care Centre in KwaDabeka on April 29, 2026.

KwaZulu-Natal Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce has confirmed that preparations have started for the process of swearing in a new National Freedom Party (NFP) member in the legislature.

This comes after the party expelled Mbali Shinga for misconduct and gross insubordination.

In December, Shinga defied the party’s instruction to vote in favour of a motion of no confidence in Premier Thami Ntuli tabled by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).

The NFP plans to replace her with party leader Ivan Barnes.

Boyce says she has to consider the new list of candidates for the legislature submitted by the party before setting a date for the swearing-in ceremony.

He says, “There is a list of the NFP that is on the record and there is a list of the NFP that was submitted yesterday (Monday). We are going to look and compare these two letters and then we would be responding to the NFP, and we are going to be responding tomorrow (Wednesday), probably because some of the letters came in now. We will be responding to them and we can set from tomorrow the date of the swearing-in.”