ELECTIONS 2026 | MK Party pulls ahead of ANC in KZN

Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has extended its lead in KwaZulu-Natal, with the ANC trailing by more than eight percentage points in the 2026 municipal elections.

According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) results dashboard, the MK Party had secured 33.61% of valid votes by 14:16 on Thursday, 5 November.

The ANC followed with 25.31%, while the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) stood at 22.02%.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) was fourth with 10.07%, followed by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on 2.09%.

At the time, 26% of votes in the province had been counted.

MK PARTY TAKES CONTROL OF FIRST COUNCIL

The IEC figures showed the MK Party leading in three councils and having secured control of one.

The party won a majority in Richmond Local Municipality, securing 56% of the vote and becoming the first municipality under its control.

The IFP was leading in one council, while the ANC had yet to register a council lead on the dashboard.

The MK Party was also ahead in the provisional seat tally, with 52 seats compared with the ANC’s 32, the IFP’s 16 and the DA’s 15.

ALL EYES ON ETHEKWINI

Attention now turns to the remaining results, particularly eThekwini, where the outcome could determine whether the MK Party can translate its provincial support into control of the municipality.

The party emerged as KwaZulu-Natal’s largest political force in the 2024 general elections but failed to secure an outright majority.

It is now contesting municipal elections for the first time.

The commission expects to announce the final election results on Sunday, 8 November.