NFP Quits KZN GPU

The National Freedom Party (NFP) has quit the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) in KwaZulu-Natal with immediate effect.

This is according to a letter seen by The Common Sense.

There are currently 80 seats in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature.

The NFP has one seat – along with its erstwhile partners in the GPU this meant that the provincial government had 41 seats, with the Inkatha Freedom Party holding 15 seats, the African National Congress having 14 seats, and the Democratic Alliance having eleven.

The non-GPU parties in the legislature held 39 seats, with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) having 37 seats, and the Economic Freedom Fighters holding two.

With the NFP’s defection this means the legislature is deadlocked at 40 seats for the GPU and 40 seats for non-GPU parties.

An MK-sponsored motion-of-no-confidence (MONC) in the GPU failed last month, when the NFP’s sole representative in the legislature, Mbali Shinga (who also serves in the provincial cabinet), voted with the GPU. This was despite reports that her party’s leadership was in favour of the MONC.

However, even if Shinga had voted for the MONC it would have still failed, as for an MONC to pass a majority of members of a legislature must vote for it, meaning it would have been one short of the 41 needed to reach a majority for it to pass.

This means that the GPU is not in immediate danger of falling although it might struggle to pass budgets and other motions in future. 

However, should a MONC be held using a secret ballot there could be a risk of a defection from one of the GPU parties, which could see an MONC succeed.