Mbalula: We thought we would be totally wiped out in KZN
SG admits that the middle class had "turned against the ANC".
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula acknowledged that the party expected a disastrous outcome in the 2026 Local Government Elections, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The party's national share of votes fell from 45.59% in 2021 to 30.91% in 2026. In KZN, Jacob Zuma's Inkatha Freedom Party (MK) party secured around 34% of the votes, while the ANC received only 20.5%.
Mbalula admitted that the party knew the disaster was coming and that the middle class had turned against them. Despite expectations of being "totally wiped out," the party was surprised by the results. Mbalula stated that the ANC would confront the reasons for disillusionment among voters and would accept this lesson with humility.
The ANC remains the leader of the national government, holding the presidency and the essential institutions of the nation. Mbalula emphasized that the ANC would use its national power to improve the lives of people, particularly in municipalities that fail to deliver. The party is not in a rush to enter a coalition but is prepared to serve in opposition, focusing on service delivery as the central topic in negotiations.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
