NFP says it will strengthen party unity for upcoming elections, after court ruling
The new National Freedom Party leadership was elected in December 2023 at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban.
Image: Facebook
The National Freedom Party (NFP) has called on its members to unite in rebuilding and strengthening the party ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
This comes after the Pietermaritzburg High Court dismissed the main application and review application in which some NFP members sought an order declaring the national elective conference of the party, held in Durban from 15 to 17 December 2023, and its decisions and resolutions, including the election of office bearers, unlawful and invalid. The applicants also sought a costs order against the respondents, jointly and severally.
Nhlanhla Thwala brought a review application within the main application. He sought an order that the decision of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) made on February 26, 2024, accepting the leadership of the NFP elected at the 2023 conference be reviewed and set aside; that the National Executive Committee be directed to facilitate and hold an elective conference of the NFP within a reasonable time, but no later than six months from the date of the order, and that the costs of the review application be paid by those respondents who oppose the review application, jointly and severally.
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Reacting in a statement, the NFP said the actions of a senior member, along with his supporters, sought to prevent the NFP from contesting the 2024 National Elections, severely compromising the party's funding and overall stability.
It said the divisions extended to party structures and caused deployees and councillors to rebel against elected leadership. Such disruptions hindered the party's election campaign efforts, leading to underperformance.
'Despite these challenges, the unity and reconciliation of the NFP remain paramount. It is unequivocally clear that the NEC, under the leadership of President Ivan Rowan Barnes, and all structures established after the 2023 December NFP Elective National conference, are legitimate and fully authorised to lead the party,' the statement read.
'All members, deployees, and councillors are urged to embrace unity, realignment, and the guiding principles of the NFP constitution.'
'The NFP now calls on all members, including those involved in the legal proceedings, to join efforts in rebuilding and strengthening the party ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections,' the statement continued.
It said founder Zanele ka-Magwaza-Msibi's legacy and vision of the party must drive their commitment to move forward, ensuring that the NFP is no longer entangled in legal disputes but focused on serving the people.
The order and judgment stated that the dispute amounts to a power struggle between NFP members.
'Those members who are bitter about the outcome of the 2023 conference elected to approach the court to vent their dissatisfaction. The long-standing rifts must heal in time. A costs order might make the healing process difficult. Ordinarily, costs must follow the outcome. However, in the interest of reconciliation, I make no order as to costs,' the order and judgment read.
According to the order, the main and review applications are dismissed. Additionally, there is no order as to costs.
thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za
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