Former KwaZulu-Natal National Freedom Party chairperson Mbali Shinga's position as MEC for Social Development remains vacant following her expulsion from the party after she was found guilty of gross insubordination and defiance.
Image: National Freedom Party
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli should immediately announce the appointment of a new Social Development MEC to replace Mbali Shinga who has been removed as an MPL rather than keeping quiet, said the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) in the legislature.
MKP chief whip Bonginkosi Mngadi expressed concern that the department has been without a political head since July 4, 2025.
He said that soon after provincial Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce announced in the full sitting of the legislature in Pietermaritzburg on July 4 that Shinga was no longer an MPL, Ntuli should have started facilitating Shinga’s replacement because only an MPL can be an MEC.
Shinga was the provincial chairperson of the National Freedom Party (NFP) until the party terminated her membership after being internally found guilty of disobeying the party instructions. She also lost her seat as the party's sole MPL.
She was the Social Development MEC in the Ntuli-led Government of Provincial Unity (GPU).
Mngadi wrote a letter to Ntuli inquiring about actions taken to appoint a new MEC for the currently vacant position.
“He is quiet and I am still waiting for an answer and I don’t know why he is quiet,” said Mngadi.
He said Ntuli should have immediately stripped Shinga of her resources, including state vehicles.
MKP chief whip Bonginkosi Mngadi says Premier Thami Ntuli should have removed former Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga immediately after provincial Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce that she was no longer an MPL.
Image: KZN Legislature
“Thereafter appoint an MEC to replace Shinga or at least take someone from the cabinet to act,” said Shinga.
It was presumed that Ntuli is delaying the appointment of a new MEC because he is still consulting with other political parties in the legislature or in the GPU.
However, Mngadi said he does not know of any consultation.
“He has been given powers by the GPU to make decisions, it is unnecessary to wait from June 4 up to now (June 17) just to appoint an acting person,” said Mngadi.
However, he was unaware of any law stipulating how long the premier has to replace a removed MEC.
“In July we will be dealing with budgets as our first sitting will be on July 14. Who would be accountable for the department budgets and reports without an MEC?” said Mngadi.
Although Ntuli is yet to officially announce Shinga’s removal and replacement, his spokesperson Lindani Mbatha said early this month that Shinga could now be referred to as a former MEC as she is no longer an MPL.
Mbatha has not yet responded to questions sent to him on Wednesday morning.
University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Sakhile Hadebe said Ntuli’s delay in making the announcement might be due to him consulting with members of his Government of Provincial Unity and political parties within the provincial Legislature to ensure that any replacement maintains political balance and stability.
Hadebe said Ntuli might be waiting for administrative and procedural considerations to be finalised before announcing.
He said although the delay might be justifiable, it has inevitably created uncertainty and speculation because “prolonged silence on such matters may raise questions regarding transparency and governance”.
He said delays in communicating important decisions risk creating the perception that citizens are being kept in the dark.
“Public confidence in government is strengthened when there is openness and clarity, particularly regarding leadership changes in critical departments.
“While the public may appreciate that political processes take time, they also expect timely communication from the executive,” said Radebe.
He said there should be arrangements to ensure continuity within the department by either appointing himself or another MEC to act in a portfolio temporarily until a substantive appointment is made.
“Such measures are important to avoid disruptions in service delivery and policy implementation.
“Although the department's administration and officials continue to function, the absence of clear political leadership for an extended period is less than ideal.
“Effective governance requires both administrative continuity and political accountability,” said Radebe.
Radebe said although Ntuli has the prerogative to take the necessary time to make an appointment, good governance principles suggest that the process should not be unduly prolonged.
When approached to establish whether or not she had started the process of challenging her expulsion, she said “yes”.
“It is known that I have taken steps as my lawyer explained in court.
“I have taken steps to challenge the membership expulsion,” she said.
She said in addition to interdicting Boyce she was going to argue in court that she was still an NFP member.
“I went to interdict her (Boyce) from removing me because I am still a member of the NFP,” said Shinga.
Her urgent application to the Pietermaritzburg High Court was based on her belief that Boyce was preparing to soon swear in her replacement, but Judge Namhla Thina Siwendu postponed the hearings to a date yet to be determined by her lawyers together with NFP President Ivan Barnes, Boyce, and the Legislature lawyers.
When asked to comment on the fact that Boyce has already announced that she was no longer an MPL since the NFP has terminated her membership, Shinga said, “I have taken steps to approach the court on urgent basis and we are waiting for court date, which we have not yet received, to challenge that.
“I have taken steps,” said Shinga.