A court decision has temporarily restored Mbali Shinga to her positions as KwaZulu-Natal chairperson and MEC of Social Development for the National Freedom Party (NFP). This reinstatement follows a legal challenge and occurs against a backdrop of internal factionalism plaguing the party. Shinga’s return is expected to exacerbate existing divisions within the NFP. The ruling is currently temporary, pending further legal proceedings or resolution of the internal disputes. The NFP has been experiencing significant internal conflict, and this decision represents a shift in the balance of power. Details of the court’s reasoning have not been fully released, but the outcome signals a temporary victory for Shinga’s faction.