ANC moves to placate NFP leader Ivan Barnes as coalition tensions spill into public view

ANC moves to placate NFP leader Ivan Barnes as coalition tensions spill into public view

Behind closed doors in KwaZulu-Natal this weekend, senior ANC figures found themselves doing damage control. With the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) wobbling and tensions spilling into public view, the ruling party has quietly promised to find “something good” for National Freedom Party (NFP) president Ivan Barnes in a bid to keep the fragile coalition alive.

The assurance came during a meeting between the ANC and NFP leadership on Saturday, convened after the NFP abruptly pulled out of the GPU. According to a senior party insider who spoke on condition of anonymity, the discussion focused less on ideology and more on political positioning,  specifically, what role Barnes could realistically occupy going forward.

A kingmaker feeling sidelined

At the heart of the NFP’s frustration is a sense of being short-changed. The party has positioned itself as a kingmaker in KwaZulu-Natal politics, yet believes the rewards promised during coalition talks never materialised.

The NFP has previously argued that GPU partners reneged on an earlier understanding that would have seen the party run at least one municipality in the province and secure a cabinet post in the Government of National Unity. According to sources, Barnes’ name was central to those expectations.

“There was a strong view that as president of a kingmaker party, Barnes should have been politically accommodated by now,” the source said. “That hasn’t happened, and that’s where the anger comes from.”

Deputy minister idea floated, then dropped

During Saturday’s talks, one option briefly surfaced: appointing Barnes as a Deputy Minister. That idea, however, was quickly scrapped after it became clear that President Cyril Ramaphosa has already used up his limited constitutional leeway to appoint ministers from outside Parliament.

The Constitution allows only two such appointments, both of which have already been made with Professor Firoz Cachalia serving as acting Police Minister and former KZN premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube appointed as Deputy Minister of Higher Education.

With that door closed, the ANC reportedly asked for time to explore alternative options. “They asked to go back, look for something suitable, and then reconvene,” the source said, suggesting a follow-up meeting is imminent.

Silence from party officials, meetings multiply

Publicly, the ANC has been tight-lipped. Provincial spokesperson Fanle Sibisi declined to confirm whether the meeting took place, saying clarity would only come after the provincial working committee meets.

The NFP, meanwhile, has been busy on multiple fronts. Party leaders have reportedly met with the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), although MKP provincial deputy secretary Shirley Willemse refused to comment, citing the sensitivity of discussions involving national leadership.

Further meetings with other GPU partners including the IFP and the DA are also expected, underscoring just how fluid the political situation has become.

Internal chaos deepens inside the NFP

While coalition negotiations continue, the NFP is battling its own internal storm. The party has suspended national chairperson Msawenkosi Mkhabela, a move that followed a deeply chaotic disciplinary hearing involving KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Social Development Mbali Shinga.

Held at Durban’s Edward Hotel, the hearing descended into confrontation, exposing entrenched factionalism within the party. Shinga faces charges for allegedly defying a party directive to support a vote of no confidence against Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli.

Tensions boiled over when uThukela chairperson Manqoba Dlamini clashed physically with Barnes during proceedings. Dlamini later said the confrontation began after Barnes addressed him informally. Barnes, in turn, accused his opponent of disrespect and intimidation.

“I come from a background where conflict is not new to me,” Barnes said, signalling that he would not be cowed by internal challenges.

A party at war with itself

The fallout has been swift. Party spokesperson Themba Dladla confirmed Mkhabela’s immediate suspension and warned that other members linked to recent controversies, including councillors who attended an unauthorised press briefing, will face disciplinary action.

On the other side, a faction aligned with Shinga has openly questioned the legitimacy of Barnes’ authority, accusing party leadership of heavy-handed decision-making. Their public dissent reflects a deeper struggle for control, particularly among members linked to the GPU.

Barnes’ announcement last week that the NFP would withdraw from the coalition only intensified the standoff, leaving both the party and the provincial government in limbo.

Bigger stakes than one political career

For the ANC, this is about more than finding a role for one politician. KwaZulu-Natal’s coalition politics are notoriously volatile, and the collapse of the GPU could reshape power dynamics across the province.

For the NFP, the question is existential: can it remain relevant and united while navigating both coalition negotiations and internal rebellion?

As one political observer put it on social media this weekend, “This isn’t just about positions, it’s about who really controls the party.”

With Shinga’s disciplinary hearing postponed to later this week and coalition talks continuing behind the scenes, KwaZulu-Natal’s political chessboard remains anything but settled.