The MK Party has made significant gains in KwaZulu-Natal in the 2026 local government elections, seizing outright control of Richmond Local Municipality and taking three municipalities from the ANC, according to final Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) results and multiple news sources. With 56.27% of the vote and 10 of 17 council seats, the MK Party secured Richmond, while also capturing Impendle and uMshwathi municipalities previously held by the ANC. This surge positions the MK Party as a major political force in the province heading into a crucial governance test.
News24 reported early on 6 November that the MK Party had taken these three key municipalities from the ANC and was leading in the eThekwini Metro. Daily Maverick further confirmed that the MK Party was leading in four municipalities formerly governed by the ANC, including Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality, though the exact municipal control for all remains provisional pending IEC confirmation. The party is also reported to be leading in 14 other KwaZulu-Natal municipalities without securing outright majorities yet.
At 71% of votes counted, the MK Party led KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial race with 34.55% of the vote and 264 council seats, significantly ahead of the ANC and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), according to News24. SABC’s report with 65% of votes tallied showed the MK Party at 34.62%, IFP at 22.87%, and ANC trailing at 21.85%. Business Day noted that MK was also leading in eThekwini with 39.4% of the vote, marking the party’s first strong local showing in the metro.
Former president Jacob Zuma, a prominent supporter of the MK Party, celebrated these results, saying during a media interaction: “We told you we were going to take that place and we’ve taken it.” Zuma emphasised that the party is open to coalitions, stating, “We are open. That is what we do. Because we want to rule the country, and we want the country to be run by the citizens.”
Willies Mchunu of the ANC reflected cautiously on the shift in KwaZulu-Natal, remarking, “It won’t be our fault if history repeats itself. We were not the makers of the history that happened in 2024. We are also not going to be makers of that history now.” Sifiso Mahlangu of the MK Party expressed confidence in the party’s performance: “The MK Party is leading in KwaZulu-Natal; we are very, very happy.”
The breakthrough in municipalities like Richmond, Impendle, and uMshwathi signals a shift in political dynamics within KwaZulu-Natal, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with the ANC’s local governance amid ongoing service delivery challenges and political tensions. However, coalition outcomes remain uncertain as the IEC’s final results and official seat allocations are still being verified. The party’s ability to govern effectively in these municipalities will serve as a critical test of its administrative capacity and political legitimacy.
While the MK Party leads in several areas, including eThekwini, it has not secured outright control of all its leading municipalities. The final configuration of councils may depend on coalition negotiations, which are yet to unfold fully.
CapeFlats News will continue monitoring the IEC’s final local government results and the unfolding political developments in KwaZulu-Natal to provide updates on municipal control and governance changes.