The Chief Whip of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Bonginkosi Mngadi, has written to Premier Thami Ntuli expressing concern over the impact of the vacant Social Development MEC post on vulnerable communities that depend on the department's services. The position has remained vacant since the National Freedom Party expelled its deployee, Mbali Shinga, who previously headed the portfolio.
Image: Supplied
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has formally called on KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli to explain the continued vacancy in the province's Social Development portfolio following the removal of former MEC Mbali Mshinga.
In a letter dated June 15 2026, MK Party Chief Whip Bonginkosi Mngadi requested urgent clarity on the leadership of the Department of Social Development portfolio, arguing that uncertainty over the position could affect service delivery to vulnerable communities.
The letter notes that the MEC position was declared vacant during a sitting of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature on June 4, 2026 and asks the Premier to confirm whether a replacement has been appointed.
If the post remains vacant, the MK Party wants Ntuli to explain the reasons for the delay, indicate whether an acting MEC has been designated to oversee the department, and outline measures implemented to ensure continuity of leadership and uninterrupted public services.
"The Department of Social Development plays a critical role in supporting vulnerable communities across the province, and clarity on these matters would be greatly appreciated," the letter states.
The request comes amid the political fallout surrounding Mbali Mshinga, who was expelled by the National Freedom Party (NFP) last month for allegedly defying the party.
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
Shinga was the NFP's provincial chairperson and its sole representative in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, where she served as MEC for Social Development.
Her expulsion attracted significant political attention, particularly because she played a pivotal role in Premier Ntuli surviving a vote of no confidence in December last year by supporting him despite her own party's explicit instruction to support the MK Party motion which was also supported by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The MK Party's intervention now places additional pressure on the Premier to explain how one of the province's key departments is being managed while its political leadership remains uncertain.
Last Tuesday, an NFP-nominated member was expected to be sworn in as a Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL). However, Ntuli opted to bide his time while the legal battle between Shinga and the party continues to unfold.
Shinga has exhausted all internal avenues to retain her membership after her appeal was unsuccessful. NFP president Ivan Barnes has already indicated that he is the party's nominee for the vacant seat.
Barnes has been unequivocal in articulating the NFP's new alignment with the MK Party-EFF bloc, a move that leaves the IFP, ANC and DA within the KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) in the 80-seat legislature. Efforts have reportedly been made to persuade the NFP to remain within the GPU fold.
The NFP's move to the new bloc has created a deadlock in the legislature, with both camps now holding 40 seats each. Meanwhile, suspended and expelled supporters and sympathisers of Shinga have been linked to efforts to establish a new political party.
However, all individuals allegedly associated with the initiative have denied the claims.
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