MK party wins four KZN municipalities in first local election

MK party's first local election test

Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto Wesizwe party is governing municipalities for the first time after winning four from the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal's local elections.

Richmond: ANC stronghold falls

The MK party secured fifty-six percent in Richmond Local Municipality, an ANC stronghold for years. The ANC won it with almost seventy percent in two thousand twenty-one.

Three more municipalities change hands

The MK party also took Impendle, which faced financial difficulties and struggled to pay workers. It stripped the ANC of majorities in uMshwathi and Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality.

MK needs coalition partners

The MK party fell short of outright majorities in three of the four municipalities. It will need support from other political parties to govern these areas.

Broader provincial gains

With ninety percent of votes counted, the MK party secured four hundred thirty-one council seats across KwaZulu-Natal and leads in fourteen other municipalities.

History of exclusion haunts MK

In two thousand twenty-four, the MK party won thirty-seven of eighty provincial seats but was excluded from government when the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP formed a coalition.

MK vows to negotiate this time

Provincial leader Willies Mchunu said the party will do everything in its power to be in government, including talking to different parties to form coalitions.

“It won't be our fault if history repeats itself. We were not the makers of the history that happened in 2024.”

Coalition talks will decide outcome

With the MK party the largest in several municipalities but lacking outright majorities, coalition negotiations will determine whether it finally gets to govern.