LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: MK party takes four KZN municipalities from ANC as governance test looms
The people of KwaZulu-Natal will get the first real taste of the uMkhonto Wesizwe party’s leadership as it looks set to govern a number of municipalities for the first time.
The people of KwaZulu-Natal will experience the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party's leadership firsthand as they lead in four municipalities, previously governed by the ANC, for the first time in local government elections. Former President Jacob Zuma's party secured the lead in Richmond Local Municipality, in the Midlands, with an overwhelming 56% of the vote against the previous ANC majority of nearly 70%.
Impendle, another ANC stronghold west of Pietermaritzburg, saw the MK party secure an outright majority of 47% but fall short of an outright majority. The MK party also received 48.1% in Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality, south-east of Pietermaritzburg, giving it 14 seats. It is important to note that the MK party will need to form a coalition with other political parties to govern in these municipalities where they have not secured outright majorities.
This marks the first time the MK party is contesting local government elections, following their strong performance in the 2024 national and provincial elections.
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