Mbalula Breaks Silence On How Zuma Completely Destroyed ANC In KZN

According to ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, the African National Congress (ANC) anticipated a difficult election campaign in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly because of the growing political influence of former president Jacob Zuma and his uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.

Mbalula made the admission while addressing the media following the 2026 Local Government Elections, acknowledging that the party had recognised the strength of Zuma’s political support in the province before voters went to the polls.

Describing the former president’s influence, Mbalula referred to Zuma as an “insimbi kayigobi”, meaning “unbending iron”.

“We knew that this was going to happen in KZN,” he said.

His remarks suggest that the ANC leadership had anticipated losing considerable support in a province that had historically served as one of its strongest electoral bases.

The election results reflected the extent of the challenge facing the governing party. The MK Party secured approximately 34% of the vote in KwaZulu-Natal, while the ANC received about 20.5%, according to the figures reported during the results process.

Nationally, the ANC’s support also declined to approximately 30.91%, compared with 45.59% in the 2021 municipal elections, highlighting the scale of its electoral difficulties.

Zuma’s political influence has played an important role in the changing political dynamics of KwaZulu-Natal. His MK Party has attracted voters who previously supported the ANC, contributing to a more competitive political environment across several municipalities.

Mbalula’s comments also raised questions about whether the ANC had fully understood the extent of the political changes taking place in the province. Although the party anticipated a difficult contest, the results demonstrated the challenge of competing against Zuma’s movement.

Meanwhile, the ANC leadership faces pressure to examine the reasons behind its declining support, including dissatisfaction with governance, unemployment, corruption concerns and poor municipal service delivery.

The party must also consider its position in municipalities where it failed to secure outright majorities, making coalition negotiations necessary.

For the MK Party, the results represent a significant expansion of its electoral presence in KwaZulu-Natal.

However, the ANC’s immediate challenge is to rebuild public confidence and strengthen its provincial structures after losing substantial support.

Mbalula’s admission highlights the changing political landscape in KwaZulu-Natal, where the ANC’s historical dominance is increasingly being challenged by competing political movements.

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