The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is leading the vote in KwaZulu-Natal in its first-ever local government election, overtaking the African National Congress. By Thursday afternoon the MK Party held 33.2 per cent of the provincial vote, ahead of the ANC on 24.8 per cent and the Inkatha Freedom Party on 22.7 per cent.

Leading in the big metro

The party was also ahead in eThekwini, the province's only metro, with 39.4 per cent, followed by the ANC on 23.5 per cent and the Democratic Alliance on 23.2 per cent. According to the Electoral Commission's dashboard, the MK Party had secured outright control of three municipalities by Friday: Richmond, with 10 of 17 seats, Impendle, with six of 11, and Johannes Phungula, with 14 of 27 seats. Official results are due on Sunday, 8 November.

A first test for Zuma's party

The elections marked the first time the party founded by former president Jacob Zuma had contested local government polls, after winning 45.3 per cent of the vote in KwaZulu-Natal in the 2024 national and provincial elections. Despite that result, it was excluded from the provincial government when the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP formed a coalition administration.

National picture

Nationally, the ANC was still leading with 32.1 per cent of votes counted by Thursday afternoon, followed by the DA on 27.1 per cent and the MK Party on 7 per cent. MK Party national spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu said the party was "very, very happy" with its performance and promised that "all boots will hit the ground" once it took office. He added that the party would use its municipal gains to prepare for the 2029 national and provincial elections, "where we will ultimately take power".