NEWS ANALYSIS | MK party gains in KZN would test Zuma’s promise to fix local government

Share current article via EmailShare current article via FacebookShare current article via TwitterShare current article via LinkedInThando MaekoPolitical Correspondent

Opens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowEnter fullscreen mode displaying this image.ExpandLeader of MK party Jacob Zuma. Picture: Supplied A sweeping victory for MK in KwaZulu-Natal’s municipal elections would put Jacob Zuma’s party in charge of a big share of the province’s local government, testing whether its appeal among voters can translate into more effective administration, improved services and tighter financial controls.

The province’s political landscape would also be affected by the changing fortunes of the ANC and the IFP, both of which have longstanding organisational bases in different parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

A shift in municipal control could reshape local political alliances and the balance of power between urban centres and rural municipalities. It would also shift the balance of power towards MK, which has been left out of a government of provincial unity comprising the ANC, IFP, DA and the National Freedom Party.

MK is campaigning on a promise to restore functioning municipalities, improve water and electricity supply, repair infrastructure and use municipal spending to create jobs. But its preparations have been complicated by leadership upheaval, including the dismissal of secretary-general Sibonelo Nomvalo days before the November 4 election.

The stakes are particularly high in eThekwini, where the ANC has governed for decades but is facing a sharp decline in support.

An eNCA MarkData poll put MK’s support in the metro at 48%, against 25.2% for the DA and 14.5% for the ANC. The results suggest a substantial shift in voter sentiment but fall short of establishing an outright majority for MK. The survey assumed voter turnout of 48.8%, with a margin of error of about three percentage points.

The figures highlight the scale of the challenge facing the ANC, whose support in eThekwini was 42% in the 2021 municipal elections. They also put the spotlight on whether MK can turn its electoral momentum into a governing programme extending beyond its 84-year-old leader’s popularity.

The implications would reach beyond Durban if the party were to win control of most of the province’s 54 municipalities. It would inherit responsibility for budgets, procurement, municipal staff and basic services in a province in which local government performance is uneven and institutional weaknesses have persisted across administrations.

Read: Poll shows MK party falling short of outright win in eThekwini as ANC loses ground

According to the auditor-general’s 2024/25 local government audit outcomes, only four of KwaZulu-Natal’s municipalities achieved clean audits. Forty-two received unqualified audit opinions with findings, seven received qualified opinions and one received an adverse opinion.

MK’s manifesto commits it to appointing qualified senior officials through fair, lawful processes, confronting political interference in procurement and tenders, reducing unnecessary dependence on consultants, and making municipal contracts and performance information more accessible to the public.

The manifesto was compiled by former Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa CEO Lucky Montana and the party’s economic csar, Thanti Mthanti, whom it credits with putting in months of research and work on its local government programme.

It sets a target of working towards 400,000 verified full-time jobs across MK-governed municipalities over five years. The proposal would require municipalities to use infrastructure investment, procurement and local economic development to expand employment and opportunities for township and rural businesses.

These commitments will be tested against municipal finances and the practical constraints of local government.

The party’s own organisational difficulties add another dimension to that challenge. The party had been scheduled to launch its election manifesto in October but abruptly cancelled the event while Zuma was in hospital. A subsequent media event to launch the manifesto was also cancelled shortly after the party dismissed Nomvalo as secretary-general.

The party announced Nomvalo’s removal amid concerns about councillor selection, factionalism, delays in campaign materials, changes in its parliamentary caucus and the establishment of deployment committees without the knowledge of relevant leadership structures. These are allegations and concerns set out by the party, rather than independently established findings.

The leadership change came as the party prepares to contest municipal elections countrywide, with the prospect of taking responsibility for councils requiring co-ordinated political leadership and experienced municipal administrators.

MK says it will establish delivery baselines and targets for the first 100 days, the first 1,000 days and the full five-year term, with regular reporting on service delivery, employment, infrastructure investment and financial performance. It also promises corrective plans when targets are missed and independent verification of employment figures where appropriate.

An MK win in KwaZulu-Natal could significantly reshape the relations between municipalities and the government of provincial unity, particularly given the party’s exclusion from the administration, political analyst Sandile Mnguni said.

Should it secure control of most municipalities, political differences could create tensions over development priorities, resource allocation and service delivery. Constitutional obligations, however, require co-operation between the different spheres of government, irrespective of political affiliation.

“The MK party’s frequent leadership changes could also undermine its electoral prospects and governing capacity. While the party may secure significant support, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, it is unlikely to obtain outright majorities in all key municipalities, including eThekwini,” Mnguni said. “This would require coalition negotiations, where leadership instability could weaken trust and discourage potential partners.”

Would you like to comment on this article?Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.