The National Freedom Party (NFP) has come under public scrutiny after voice notes surfaced allegedly capturing party president Ivan Barnes telling senior founding member Siphamandla Ntombela to “go to hell” during a heated internal dispute.
Reports indicate that the disagreement stemmed from a disciplinary matter within the party. Ntombela, a councillor in the Zululand District Municipality, is said to have advised Barnes on how to handle the issue, but the party president reportedly rejected the input and insisted he would run the organisation according to his own approach, dismissing outside influence.
The controversy is linked to an alleged incident in which a party member was reportedly seen carrying a firearm during an NFP meeting in Ekurhuleni. Ntombela is understood to have advocated for a calm and consultative process in dealing with the matter, while Barnes allegedly pushed back strongly against that suggestion, escalating tensions between the two.
At this stage, the NFP has not issued an official response to the leaked recordings, and there has been no confirmation regarding the authenticity of the audio or the status of the member allegedly involved in the firearm incident. No disciplinary hearing date has been announced.
Ntombela holds significant influence within the party due to his long-standing relationship with the late founder Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi, having served as her bodyguard and close aide. His historical role in the party has earned him respect among many members, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, making the reported clash more sensitive.
Those who have listened to the recordings describe the exchange as increasingly tense, with Barnes appearing frustrated while Ntombela remained calm. The audio has since circulated widely on social media and within internal party communication groups.
The incident has raised fresh questions about unity within the NFP, especially regarding how disciplinary matters are handled and whether internal divisions could deepen between the current leadership and members aligned with the party’s founding legacy.