Political uncertainty prompts postponement of crucial NFP meetings
A crucial meeting between the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and the National Freedom Party (NFP) in KwaZulu-Natal has been postponed indefinitely.
The MKP had invited the NFP to join discussions on Saturday, surrounding a proposed second motion of no confidence against KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli. The first motion presented in December 2025 failed during a sitting at the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature.
The KZN Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) has since been under the spotlight while political parties meet to discuss its imminent future. The postponed meeting follows the NFP’s withdrawal from the coalition government with the ANC, IFP, and DA three weeks ago, raising uncertainty about the GPU’s ability to complete its term until 2029.
The latest round of meetings between the IFP, NFP, and the MKP is a concern, with just weeks before the State of the Province Address (SOPA) by KZN Premier Thami Ntuli, on February 26 and 27, 2026.
On Saturday, Sunset Xaba, the NFP acting secretary-general, said the MKP and NFP meeting was postponed until further notice. The NFP is waiting for a response on a new date.
“It is the NFP-IFP meeting set for sitting on Saturday, February 15, 2026, as reported earlier. Initially, IFP requested the meeting to be held between February 9 or 16, 2026, but because of NFP’s other political commitments, we requested them to shift the meeting to the date mentioned above,” Xaba stated.
The MKP brought the first motion because it believed Ntuli is presiding over an underperforming administration characterised by corruption and financial mismanagement.
Although the MK Party won the largest share of the vote in the 2024 provincial elections, with more than 40%, it fell short of an outright majority and was excluded from the coalition. The motion required at least 41 votes to pass in the 80-member legislature.
The IFP’s failure to meet with NFP leadership regarding concerns over the GPU angered DA leadership.
The IFP-NFP meeting was supposed to take place last week, before the multi-party meeting of the GPU partners proposed by the DA. The NFP refused to attend the meeting, citing the IFP’s refusal to meet with its leadership before the multi-party talks.
Saturday’s invitation, issued by MKP’s second Deputy President Tony Yengeni, sought to bring together progressive political forces in the province to deliberate on the political context surrounding the motion and explore areas of convergence and divergence within the legislature, consistent with each organisation’s mandate and ideological stance.
In the letter, dated February 5, 2026, and addressed to NFP President Ivan Barnes, Yengeni emphasised the importance of the multilateral engagement in light of the evolving political climate in KZN.
Xaba expressed a willingness to engage in a meaningful dialogue and proposed an alternative date for the meeting.
He said that the NFP remains committed to strengthening relations and engagements between the respective organisations.
The IFP requested a GPU engagement with the NFP delegation, which is still being considered. The NFP leadership has made it clear, however, that such discussions will be conducted on a one-on-one basis, ensuring that no selective treatment will be applied.
The NFP reaffirmed its commitment to core values such as “ethical governance”, “efficient leadership”, and “meaningful service delivery”, all of which are fundamental to the party’s mission.
The NFP further stated that any political engagements or decisions will be guided by these values and the collective will of the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
ANC spokesperson in the province, Fanle Sibisi, said he was unable to confirm whether the meeting occurred between his party and the NFP as he was at a funeral.
In December, the KZN Legislature descended into chaos during the motion of no confidence as members of the MKP and the EFF demanded a secret ballot.
The disruption occurred after a ruling by KZN Speaker Nontembeko Boyce against the secret ballot. MKP members argued that they had received threats and could not vote openly without fear of retaliation.
Despite these concerns, Boyce rejected the demand, prompting MKP and EFF members to protest by singing on the legislative floor.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za and zainul.dawood@inl.co.za