NFP president urges calm as her party falls apart

05 July 2016 - 08:58 By NATHI OLIFANT

National Freedom Party president Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi has cautioned her party from overreacting after a court dismissed the party's application to contest next month's local government polls.KaMagwaza-Msibi said she and the NFP's leadership would go on an extensive consultation drive to map a way forward."I am really hurt and upset. What has happened pains me deeply and I can only imagine our members are going through the same. As hurtful as this may be, I urge our members to remain calm and think with their minds and not their hearts. I urge them to refrain from overreacting because something is being done about the whole situation," she said.The embattled party has threatened to unravel from within after the suspension of several leaders. The NFP Youth Movement has instructed party leaders to rescind their decision because the structure that suspended them was "illegitimate".NFP secretary-general Nhlanhla Khubisa, national chairman Maliyakhe Shelembe, deputy chairman Sicelo Mabika and treasurer-general Xolani Ndlovu were all served with suspension letters following a sitting of the national working committee on Saturday.Ndlovu, who has been fingered as the official behind the disqualification of the NFP to contest the local government elections, was not present at the party's press briefing yesterday. Disqualifying NFP from polls violates voters’ constitutional rights: EFFThe National Freedom Party (NFP) received the backing of another opposition party in the difficulties it’s facing regards its participation in the August 3 municipal polls.NFP members accused Ndlovu of "deliberately" delaying paying th e party's deposit to the Independent Electoral Commission.Youth movement president Sibusiso Mncwabe fired a broadside at NFP members who suspended the party officials.He said the body that took the action was "constituted illegally".Mncwabe said kaMagwaza-Msibi had not been made aware of a sitting of the national working committee meeting."The constitution of the party clearly states that only a chairman can call for a national working committee meeting in consultation with the president," said Mncwabe...

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