Local elections ban: NFP heads to ConCourt

At the weekend, the Electoral Court confirmed a decision by the IEC to disqualify the party from the August municipal polls after it failed to meet the deadline to pay the required deposit.

The party's National Working Committee and National Executive Committee decided to take the matter further to the Concourt after a lengthy meeting yesterday.

Meanwhile, as the reality of the NFP's non-participation in the municipal elections slowly sinks in, a political analyst Sanusha Naidu is warning against apportioning blame in light of the current crisis.

"I think the parties have to be able to effectively manage themselves even in situations where the leaders or the heads of the party are either not there or in some situation as in the case of the NFP," she said. 

NFP leader Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi, who is also deputy Science and Technology, has been on sick leave since suffering a stroke in November 2014 - with internal squabbles emerging during her long absence.

During her first major public appearance at the party's manifesto a few weeks ago, KaMagwaza-Msibi lashed out at those in the party who she said undermined her leadership and tried to oust her.

Meanwhile, northern KZN police say 28 NFP supporters have been arrested for public violence after they blockaded the R34 road at the turn-off to Ulundi from the early hours of this morning.

It's understood they were protesting against the party's disqualified from the local government elections.

At some point, officers used rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Two protesters were hurt but it's not known if it was from the rubber bullets fired. 

Police say the road has now been cleared but they remain in the area to monitor the situation.

(File photo)