National Liberal Party leader Ivan Burns. (National Liberal Party/Facebook)
RA new infighting has erupted within the leadership of the National Liberal Party (NFP) that could destabilise the unity government in KwaZulu-Natal, in which the party plays a central role.
Late last month, NFP president Ivan Burns suspended secretary-general Teddy Swala for a second time, despite an injunction being issued by the Pietermaritzburg High Court in July against attempts to sack several senior party officials.
In retaliation, Twala sent a letter of demand to Burns and other NFP leaders who attended the meeting where his suspension was decided, informing them of his intention to challenge the lawfulness of the suspension.
Lawyers for Mr Burns also reached a settlement with the attempt to suspend Mr Swara and threatened to ask the court to enforce the existing suspension order if the NFP chairman did not withdraw it.
The factions led by Burns and Twala have been at odds since the death of party founder Zanele Magwaza Msibi in 2021. In-fighting and financial instability meant the party narrowly avoided standing in the May 29 national and provincial elections.
The NFP survived, winning one seat in the 81-seat KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature, but the post-election balance of power in the province meant it was able to secure the MEC post of its only member of the provincial legislature, Mbali Singa.
The provincial single seat allowed the provincial unity government, made up of the provincial government, the Inkatha Freedom Party, the ANC and the Democratic Alliance, to take control of parliament and elect Thami Ntuli as prime minister.
The NFP seats gave the provincial unity government a slim but effective majority over the Umkhonto we'Sizwe party and the Economic Freedom Fighters, but infighting threatens the stability of the ruling system.
Late last month, Burns issued a “re-suspension” to Swara with immediate effect after he failed to attend three consecutive national executive committee meetings.
Burns said Twala was guilty of “conspiring” with members of the NFP's electoral committee to “falsify” the election report and cause “major chaos, destruction and destabilisation” within the party.
Burns said Twala had sued the party and sought to disband its democratically elected leadership, as well as “to block the party from taking part in the 2024 national and state elections”.
Burns said the NFP National Committee had resolved to suspend him with immediate effect because his actions breached Article 5, Section 2 of the party's constitution.
“Accordingly, NFP, through the NWC Resolution, hereby advises you that you are being re-suspended with immediate effect, pending the outcome of a thorough investigation into the misconduct committed by you,” Burns said in the letter, adding that a disciplinary hearing would then take place.
However, Twala wrote to Burns last week reminding him of a court order issued on July 22 this year prohibiting him from being suspended until the final hearing on the matter on September 19.
“I recognize that you have chosen to continue with prohibited and illegal activities. [not] “I have no intention of retracting it. If you do not retract your letter, I will brief and instruct my lawyer on the matter. I believe it will not get to that point,” Swara wrote.
Twala also wrote to NFP national chairperson Sibusiso Mkhabela and the party organisation to inform them that the meeting which decided to suspend him was not lawfully held.
He demanded records of all meetings and decisions taken by the organisation since its December 2023 elective conference.
Twala and other NFP leaders are contesting the outcome of a meeting held to fulfil the conditions for participation in the election imposed by the South African Electoral Commission.
The NFP also faces possible liquidation by Ezulweni Investments over unpaid R25-million debts owed from the 2019 elections, and is being sued by one of its former employees, Thembinkosi Ngccom, over R1.2-million in unpaid wages.
According to a court order issued in May, NFP must pay Nkam's back wages from June 2017 to February 2023. It must also back-pay his salary from March 2023 to May 2024.
At the time of writing, that has not yet happened.
Barnes did not respond to calls or messages. Mail & Guardian.
Twala declined to comment.