LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: MK will ‘hoover up’ eThekwini, but race could lead to a shaky coalition
The MK party is widely expected to lead eThekwini in the 4 November polls, but the most likely scenario in Durban is a wobbly coalition where small parties wield disproportionate power.
In the upcoming 2026 local elections in eThekwini, Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party is expected to lead as the opposition party. However, the municipal race is likely to result in a fragile coalition, with smaller parties holding considerable influence. Pollsters foresee a significant shift in the city's political landscape as MK challenges South Africa's third-largest city, which has a R75-billion budget.
MK is one of 69 parties vying for a share of the Durban power, and many of these parties are promising similar goals. The competition among candidates is not very intense, with candidates making grandiose promises but lacking substantial policies. Although MK promises "radical" change, it is unclear what precisely those changes will entail.
The major issues facing eThekwini include water shortages, crime, corruption, and high unemployment rates. MK candidate Mxolisi Phakathi, a pastor, and former MPL for the African Transformation Movement, pledges to bring "radical" change but hasn't specified what these changes will be. He emphasizes the need for water billing reform, bad debt recovery, and efficient use of resources.
Water reform is a top priority for Phakathi, who aims to spend R10 billion on water infrastructure. The City of eThekwini has been plagued by significant water losses due to leaks and unpaid bills, which account for more than 65% of the city's water supply. Phakathi's opponent, Haniff Hoosen, the Democratic Alliance's mayoral candidate, focuses on his campaign for water reform, claiming that more than half of the city's water is non-revenue.
Despite the lack of concrete plans from most candidates, Hoosen accuses the ANC mayor, Cyril Xaba, of mismanagement, citing the city's R48-billion bad debt and the R9-billion expenditure on the failed Go Durban bus system. Hoosen advocates for transparency and annual lifestyle audits of politicians and public servants. He also proposes livestreaming all tender meetings to increase accountability and streamline the procurement process.
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