NFP wins appeal battle as MEC Mbali Shinga expulsion is upheld

KwaZulu-Natal National Freedom Party chairperson and MEC of Social Development Mbali Shinga has lost her appeal against her expulsion from the party.

The political future of KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC and National Freedom Party (NFP) provincial chairperson Mbali Shinga hangs in the balance after the party's appeal body upheld her expulsion from the organisation.

In a final ruling delivered on Saturday, the appeal panel dismissed Shinga's challenge against findings that she was guilty of gross insubordination and misconduct, effectively bringing to an end a months-long internal battle that has shaken the NFP and threatened the stability of KwaZulu-Natal's Government of Provincial Unity (GPU).

Documents seen by the Sunday Tribune show that the appeal chairperson rejected Shinga's arguments challenging both the disciplinary process and the legitimacy of the appeal proceedings.

"I find that the current chairperson was validly appointed. The chairperson of the hearing correctly found that she was guilty on both counts and imposed a sanction of expulsion from the party due to, inter alia, the gravity of the charges and the broken relationship of trust between the parties," the ruling stated.