The National Freedom Party (NFP) has been rocked by infighting and disunity recently, but NFP MP, Ahmed Shaik-Emam says that is all in the past.
Speaking to Political Analysis South Africa on Tuesday, 8 May 2018, Shaik-Emam said that party members are well on their way to resolving their differences ahead of the party’s conference “in July or August this year.”
“It is common knowledge in South Africa that there are challenges in the NFP, including the two different camps…fortunately, there is a process that is in place, a unity process where representatives from either side are participating in it,” he said.
He added that the meetings and have fruitful and are close to a conclusion. Delegates from the two fractions are expected to meet a “Peace Summit” later this week in order to carve a way forward for the party ahead of the national elections next year.
The resignation of the National Chairperson, Maliyakhe Shelembe and former Secretary General, Prof. Nhlanhla Khubisa from the party in 2016 were some of the issues discussed at the meeting.
Shaik-Emam also noted that delegates had also complained about misinformation that was being spread by some party members on the activities of party leader, Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi. He said that half-truths were being used to spread disunity within the party.
Although KaMagwaza-Msibi has largely been out of the public eye recently due to an illness, Shaik-Emam says that she wants to “see the party united” and will also fully participate in the party’s upcoming election campaign.
“She’s aware of everything. She participates in everything and reacts when necessary,” he said.
“She’s going to be attending many, many rallies and things. She’s going to be attending all the meetings. She’s going to be participating,” he added.
Going forward, Shaik-Emam says that the NFP will continue to use its strategy of congratulating the ANC government where it succeeds and also criticising it where it fails. He says that a balanced view of the government’s work is the only way in which members of different political parties can make the country work.
“There’s a lot of good work being done in South Africa and equally there’s lots and lots of challenges. Nobody talks about such things,” he said.
Shaik-Emam also criticised the media, saying that some media houses are more likely to work with certain political parties to push for a certain narrative that does not reflect the good work being done.
“Its quite clear that a very great sector of the media seems to be colluding with some political parties not in the interest of the people on the ground, not in the interest of the people of the country and that’s why you find no balance,” he said.
