News24 | MK Party cancels final rally ahead of 4 November elections as Zuma remains in hospital

The MK Party’s final rally on 18 October is cancelled amid concerns about the health of its president, Jacob Zuma.

Luba Lesolle/Gallo Images

• The MK Party has cancelled its final rally scheduled for Sunday, 18 October.
• This follows conflicting reports about the health of its president, Jacob Zuma.
• The party has also announced an investigation into discrepancies in the IEC’s final councillor candidate list.
• For more politics news, visit News24 Politics.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has cancelled its final rally ahead of the 2026 local government elections and announced an investigation into discrepancies in the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) final councillor candidate list.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the party said the rally, scheduled for Sunday, 18 October, had been cancelled to allow it to redirect its resources and efforts towards community engagement and ward-level campaigning.

“The 2026 LGE People’s Mandate (Manifesto) will be shared electronically with all party structures and members to ensure that everyone is informed and ready to support its implementation.

“The final rally scheduled for 18 October 2026 has been cancelled to allow the party to focus its resources and efforts on community engagement and campaign activities at ward level,” reads the statement.

The announcement by the MK Party comes as questions remain over the health of party president Jacob Zuma, who was admitted to a KwaZulu-Natal hospital on 6 October after reportedly falling ill while campaigning in Msinga.

READ | Zuma family rules out airlift to military hospital, insists on KZN treatment

Reports emerged on Tuesday that Zuma had been discharged from hospital on Monday night.

However, Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi, in a three-word statement, said reports that Zuma has been discharged “are not true”.

Interestingly, the MKP statement is mum about its president’s health or hospitalisation.

In the statement, the MKP also announced the launch of its national Molo Makhelwane campaign, which will run until midnight on 3 November, the day before the local government elections.

[Media Statement]
STATEMENT ON THE 2026 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS:KEY RESOLUTIONS AND THE LAUNCH OF THE MOLO MAKHELWANE CAMPAIGN. pic.twitter.com/nnrSjg8Ps9

— uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (Official) (@MkhontoweSizwex) October 13, 2026

The party said through the campaign, its members will visit and engage with communities across the country. Concurrently, the party launched its “Green Every Day” initiative, calling on members to maintain a visible presence in communities throughout the campaign period.

Meanwhile, the MK Party said it would conduct an urgent, independent investigation into reported discrepancies in the IEC’s final councillor candidate list.

READ | Fact Check: Manyi’s claims of unequal treatment for Zuma contradicted by evidence

According to the statement, the party’s leadership would engage with affected ward councillor candidates whose names were omitted from the final list. These candidates would be prioritised for the first available positions, subject to the party’s internal processes and requirements.

“An urgent and independent investigation will be conducted, and its findings will be submitted to the presidency for consideration,” reads the statement.