The National Freedom Party (NFP), one of the key political parties in the KwaZulu-Natal government of provincial unit (GPU) has been plunged into fresh leadership turmoil after its Secretary-General was fired late on Sunday.

Teddy Nhlanhla Thwala was fired in absentia after he failed to show up with his legal team to defend himself.

The hearing took place in spite of Thwala having a court order that barred the party from acting against him and other members until a pending case before the Pietermaritzburg High Court is heard.

Thwala’s firing was then communicated to him in a letter that was signed off by the Party’s president, Ivan Barnes.

“This serves to confirm that following a Disciplinary Enquiry held at Durban on Sunday the 17th of November 2024, the above-mentioned member has been found guilty of all charges brought against him and was found to have committed acts of gross misconduct in violation of the NFP Constitution and Code of Conduct, thus having brought the party into disrepute in the process.

“In light of the above, the sanction imposed by the Chairperson of the Disciplinary Enquiry was one of expulsion from the party with immediate effect,” reads part of the ruling in the matter.

Thwala was then given five days to appeal the ruling if he felt the sanction was unfair. He could not be reached for comment as his cellphone has been off since Wednesday last week.

The NFP which has one seat in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, is a key member of the shaky GPU led by Premier Thami Ntuli.

After the May 29 elections, some of its former members wanted it to work with the MK Party (Umkhonto Wesizwe), but the likes of Barnes got their way and they joined the IFP, ANC, DA to form a government.

As a reward, Mbali Shinga, the chairperson of the NFP in KwaZulu-Natal was appointed as the MEC for Social Development.

The leadership tussles within the NFP is threatening the stability of the GPU because if it can pull out, the balance of forces in the legislature would be 40 against 40.