By Nokwanda Ncwane
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has emerged as the biggest political party in KwaZulu-Natal after securing more than 2.1 million votes in the 2026 local government elections.
The local government elections were held on Wednesday, 4 November, with more than 13 million South Africans participating in the polls, according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
The Jacob Zuma-led party contested local government elections for the first time and secured just above 34% of the provincial vote, placing it ahead of the African National Congress (ANC) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
The results mark a significant shift in the province’s political landscape, with the MK Party gaining support in areas that were previously regarded as ANC strongholds, including parts of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.
In eThekwini, the MK Party emerged as the largest party, securing 86 of the 223 council seats. However, it fell short of the 112 seats needed for an outright majority, meaning it will need to negotiate with other parties to form a government.
The MK Party has since appointed a seven-member national negotiating team to oversee coalition discussions following the elections.
The team is headed by the party’s first deputy president, Duduzane Zuma, and includes advocate Dali Mpofu, Tony Yengeni, Willies Mchunu and the party’s eThekwini mayoral candidate Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi among others.
Coalition negotiations will be particularly important in KwaZulu-Natal, where 32 of the province’s 44 municipalities are heading for coalition arrangements after no party secured an outright majority.
Despite emerging as the biggest party in the province, the MK Party will not necessarily govern the largest number of municipalities, as the IFP has also secured the leading position in several councils.
The outcome of the negotiations will determine how municipalities, including eThekwini, Msunduzi, Newcastle, uMhlathuze and KwaDukuza, will be governed.
