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National Freedom Party
AbbreviationNFP
LeaderIvan Rowan Barnes[1]
FounderZanele kaMagwaza-Msibi
Founded25 January 2011 (2011-01-25)
Split fromInkatha Freedom Party
IdeologySocial democracy
Egalitarianism
Political positionCentre-left
Colours  Orange   Green
National Assembly seats
2 / 400
NCOP seats
0 / 90
Provincial Legislatures
1 / 430
Website
www.Nfpkznlegc.org.za

The National Freedom Party (NFP) is a South African political party. It was launched on 25 January 2011 by Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, former chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), along with other former IFP members.[2]

Election results

In the 2011 municipal election, the NFP received 2.4% of the votes cast in South Africa,[3] and 10.4% of the votes cast in KwaZulu-Natal province.[4] It won a majority of seats in the eDumbe Local Municipality and a plurality in Nongoma Local Municipality. Following the 2014 South African general election, the party's leader Magwaza-Msibi was appointed to the position of Deputy Minister of Science and Technology.[5] The party was disqualified from participating in the 2016 municipal election as it had failed to pay the election fee to the Independent Electoral Commission.[6]

The party contested the 2019 general elections and its support levels dropped.[7] The party lost four seats in the National Assembly, bringing their seat total to only two seats. In KwaZulu-Natal, the party's support was greatly diminished. The party had lost five seats in the provincial legislature, but managed to win a single seat, occupied by the party's National Organizer, Cynthia Mbali Shinga. Magwaza-Msibi was not reappointed to the cabinet and resigned as an MP on 20 June 2019, citing her intention to rebuild the party.[8]

On 6 September 2021, shortly before the 2021 South African municipal elections, Magwaza-Msibi died from a COVID-19-related cardiac arrest.[9]

The party won 170,616 votes, 0.56% of the national total, in the elections, winning back one municipality it formerly ran in 2011 to 2016, the eDumbe Local Municipality.[8]

National elections

Election Total votes Share of vote Seats +/– Government
2014[10] 288,742 1.57%
6 / 400
 – in opposition
2019 61,220 0.35%
2 / 400
 Decrease 4 in opposition

Provincial elections

Election[10][11] Eastern Cape Free State Gauteng Kwazulu-Natal Limpopo Mpumalanga North-West Northern Cape Western Cape
% Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats
2014 0.16% 0/63 0.11% 0/30 0.47% 0/73 7.31% 6/80 0.04% 0/49 0.75% 0/30 0.15% 0/33 0.03% 0/30 0.04% 0/42
2019 0.03% 0/63 0.03% 0/30 0.07% 0/73 1.57% 1/80 0.01% 0/49 0.12% 0/30 0.06% 0/33 0.04% 0/30 0.11% 0/42

Municipal elections

Election Votes %
2011 644,917 2.4%
2016[12] 5,224 0.01%
2021[13] 170,616 0.56%

Breakaway parties

A number of small parties have broken away from the NFP, including the Abantu Batho Congress, the African People's Movement, formed by former chairperson Vikizitha Mlotshwa, and the National People's Front, formed by former national deputy chairperson Bheki Gumbi.[14]

References

  1. ^ @NFP_Updates (17 December 2023). "The Elected NEC of the NFP led by the President Ivan Rowan Barnes" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Magwaza-Msibi launches National Freedom Party". The New Age. 26 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Results Summary - All Ballots: All Provinces" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Results Summary - All Ballots: KwaZulu-Natal" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Parliament of the Republic of South Africa - Parliament of South Africa".
  6. ^ Mthetwa, Bongani (21 July 2016). "NFP in last-ditch court bid to contest local government elections". Business Day Live. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  7. ^ "NFP admits defeat, but 'humbled' by continued support". The Citizen. 9 May 2019. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b Mkhwanazi, Siyabonga (21 June 2019). "Magwaza-Msibi to focus on 'building NFP', as she resigns as MP". The Citizen. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  9. ^ "National Freedom Party leader Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi dies". News24. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  10. ^ a b "2014 National and Provincial Elections Results - 2014 National and Provincial Election Results". IEC. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  11. ^ "Results Dashboard". www.elections.org.za. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Results Summary - All Ballots" (PDF). elections.org.za. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Results Summary - All Ballots" (PDF). elections.org.za. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Upcoming municipal elections sees an increase of small parties". connectradio.co.za. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
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