‘You wrote off uMkhonto weSizwe’, says Mpofu as party prepares for coalition negotiations
The MK party has established a national structure to manage the process.
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has appointed a national team to oversee coalition negotiations following the 2026 local government elections, announced on Saturday, 7 November during a media briefing in Durban. The announcement follows ongoing vote counting and verification for the municipal elections held on 4 November, with final results expected on Sunday, 8 November.
MK party National Disciplinary Committee chairperson Dali Mpofu views the party's electoral performance as a significant achievement, noting its ability to secure nearly 10% of the national vote in its first municipal election participation. He stated the party is prepared to engage other political formations and has established a National Negotiating Team (NNT) to manage coalition negotiations, comprising senior party figures like Mpofu, Duduzane Zuma, Tony Yengeni, Willies Mchunu, Lindi Mtshali-Makhubu, Mxolisi Phakathi, and Dr Thanti Mthanti.
The team's mandate includes ensuring any coalition agreements align with MK policies, specifically regarding land issues. They must avoid pursuing political influence or short-term expediency, focusing instead on substantive issues like governance, financial sustainability, integrity, and commitment to party promises. Any agreements must be documented with clear obligations, targets, and accountability mechanisms, to be finalized within 100 days of municipal council establishment.
The NNT will not have the final say on coalition agreements, which will rest with the party's presidency. Mpofu warned that any unapproved coalition discussions would be prohibited by the party leadership. He also addressed concerns about the party's stability, asserting that such judgments underestimated voter support for MK. The IEC's handling of outstanding objections to election results was also questioned during the briefing, with Mpofu suggesting the commission's actions required immediate attention to ensure fair electoral processes.
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