NFP Takes KZN Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce To Court Over Mbali Shinga Removal Dispute
The political dispute between the National Freedom Party (NFP) and its former member Mbali Shinga has escalated into a courtroom showdown, with the party turning to the Pietermaritzburg High Court in an effort to force KwaZulu Natal Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce to remove Shinga from the provincial legislature.
The matter, which has deepened tensions within KwaZulu Natal’s political landscape, is set to be heard on 30 July 2026 after the NFP accused Boyce of refusing to act on the party’s decision to recall Shinga from the legislature.
The NFP says its legal challenge is not an attempt to undermine the authority of the courts, but rather an effort to uphold constitutional processes and ensure that internal party decisions are respected.
The party’s Secretary General, Sunset Xaba, said the legal action against the Speaker was necessary because the NFP believes its decision regarding Shinga has not been implemented.
“The NFP has always maintained that this matter has nothing to do with defying a court ruling. This follows the party’s decision to recall Shinga from the provincial legislature, an action the NFP claims the Speaker is refusing to execute,” Xaba said.
Political fallout intensifies after failed MEC removal attempt
The court action follows a week of growing tension between the NFP and other political figures in KwaZulu Natal, after the party failed in its recent attempt to remove the ANC’s MEC for Social Development.
Following the failed move, the ANC leadership in the province called on the NFP to stop directing its anger towards Boyce, who has been at the centre of the dispute over Shinga’s position.
The ANC’s intervention came after the NFP leadership publicly criticised the Speaker, accusing her of interfering in the party’s internal affairs and preventing the implementation of its decisions.
The NFP had formally written to Boyce requesting that Shinga be removed as a member of the legislature. However, the Speaker rejected the request, stating that she could not remove Shinga because a Pietermaritzburg High Court interdict currently prevents such action.
Speaker cites existing court order preventing Shinga’s removal
Boyce’s position is that the existing court order places legal restrictions on any attempt to remove Shinga from her position while the matter remains unresolved.
The latest request from the NFP followed a meeting of the party’s national executive committee, where members decided to dismiss Shinga’s appeal against her expulsion from the party.
The NFP has argued that the Speaker’s role is administrative and that she should not involve herself in determining whether the party followed its own internal procedures.
Xaba accused the Speaker’s office of stepping beyond its responsibilities by questioning the legitimacy of the NFP’s internal processes.
“The Speaker’s office should not choose sides. The Speaker’s office must follow the established rules. It is not the duty of the Speaker’s office to judge whether the platform that decided to dismiss Shinga’s appeal followed all the party guidelines or not,” Xaba said.
Legal battle puts spotlight on party authority and legislative independence
The dispute raises wider questions about the relationship between political parties and provincial legislatures, particularly when internal party decisions affect elected representatives.
While the NFP maintains that Shinga’s removal is a matter of enforcing a legitimate party decision, Boyce’s stance is that constitutional and legal obligations prevent her from acting while a court order remains in place.
The upcoming High Court hearing will determine whether the Speaker acted correctly in refusing to remove Shinga or whether the NFP’s request must be enforced.
For now, the political standoff continues, with the court expected to provide clarity on the limits of party authority and the independence of legislative processes in KwaZulu Natal.
