The battle for the soul of the National Freedom Party (NFP) continues as two top leaders of the organisation continue to tear each other apart.

FACTIONAL FIGHT

The never-ending factional fight over the leadership of the party is between President Ivan Barnes and secretary-general Canaan Mdletshe. The ongoing battle for the NFP is one of the reasons the party failed to gain a single seat at the National Assembly after this year’s elections. The party managed to secure seats in KwaZulu Natal Province and may play a pivotal in deciding who the new Premier will be.

BARRED

This week, Barnes announcd tha the party has decided to barr Mdletshe from communicating with the media and addressing the public on NFP issues. "We wish to inform the media and members of the public that only myself, as the President of the NFP, has the responsibility to speak about negotiations after consultation with the leadership collective," he said. Barnes further said that Canaan was not involved in the party’s election campaign and that he is currently not involved in the coalition negotiations.