Jacob Zuma is Unbending Iron: Mbalula Admits ANC Anticipated KZN Election Disaster

African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has made a remarkable admission about the party’s electoral performance in KwaZulu-Natal, revealing that the organisation had anticipated a political disaster ahead of the November 2026 Local Government Elections.

Mbalula acknowledged that the ANC leadership knew it was heading into an extremely difficult battle in the province, particularly with former president Jacob Zuma leading the charge through his rapidly growing uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.

In describing the challenge posed by Zuma, Mbalula used the isiZulu expression “insimbi kayigobi”, which translates to an unbending iron, portraying the former president as a stubborn and uncompromising political force who would not easily surrender his influence.

The ANC Secretary-General’s remarks underline the seriousness with which the governing party viewed Zuma’s political campaign and the threat it posed to its traditional support base in KwaZulu-Natal.

The province which has historically been one of the ANC strongest electoral bases, has undergone a dramatic political transformation following the MK Party’s impressive rise.

The November 2026 municipal elections further exposed the extent of the ANC’s declining dominance, with Zuma’s party attracting significant support and disrupting the political balance across several municipalities.

The results have left the ANC without outright majorities in key areas, triggering a wave of hung councils and opening the door to complicated coalition negotiations.

Despite the disappointing outcome, Mbalula reportedly indicated that the situation was not as devastating as the party’s worst-case internal projections had suggested.

The admission is particularly significant given Zuma history with the ANC, having once served as the country’s president and one of the organisation’s most influential leaders.

As coalition negotiations continue, the ANC faces an uncomfortable reality: reclaiming its former dominance in KwaZulu-Natal will be far more difficult with Zuma’s political influence continuing to grow.

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