In a dramatic turn in KwaZulu-Natal politics, Mike Mabuyakhulu acting as MKP (MK Party) provincial convener has sent a stern letter addressed to Ivan Barnes, leader of the NFP, accusing him of acting in bad faith as the province’s coalition government prepares to meet without MKP’s participation.
As tension simmers, Mabuyakhulu’s letter, styled “Dear Cde Barnes”, challenges Barnes’s decisions over the structure and operation of the coalition in KZN, suggesting the NFP boss is undermining unity and sidelining partners.
The letter comes at a time when the KZN Government of Provincial Unity is convening major meetings reportedly without MKP’s active role fueling speculation about fractures within the ruling coalition.
MKP insiders say the party was excluded from planning decisions and that Barnes has overstepped his mandate by unilaterally shaping the coalition’s agenda. Mabuyakhulu demanded clarity on Barnes’s actions and threatened political consequences if the exclusion continued.
Barnes, for his part, had earlier announced that the NFP would hold a media briefing on Saturday, signaling that he intended to present his own narrative to the public.
Observers say the spat is more than a personality clash it may indicate deeper instability within the KZN coalition, where power struggles and mistrust are fast becoming public. Many are watching whether MKP will withdraw from the government or force a realignment of alliances.