DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL — The MK Party has expressed strong satisfaction with its performance in the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE 2026), particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, while setting strict ideological conditions for any potential coalition agreements.
Sifiso Mahlangu, the national spokesperson and deputy secretary general of the MK Party, confirmed the party’s success in its first-ever local government election. Despite competing against well-established, heavily funded political parties that have contested every election cycle for years, the MK Party reported sweeping victories. Mahlangu noted that the party has “cleaned up” in KwaZulu-Natal, securing outright majorities in full municipalities in the North West.
Emphasizing that the MK Party has successfully expanded beyond its KwaZulu-Natal stronghold to become a national force, Mlangu highlighted that the party’s operation center projected securing two additional full municipalities by 1:00 a.m. He stressed that the party is not only winning proportional representation (PR) and ward councillor seats but also securing mayoral positions and full municipal control, thanking South African voters for their mandate.
Strict Ideological Conditions for Coalitions
Addressing the reality of 67 hung councils across the country, Mahlangu clarified the MK Party’s firm stance on post-election coalitions. He stated that the party entered the LGE 2026 to win outright majorities to deliver on its mandate, not to negotiate with other political partners.
However, if coalition talks become inevitable, Mahlangu asserted that the MK Party will exclusively engage with ideologically aligned organizations. Potential partners must recognize the historical dispossession of black South Africans, respect the role of kings and tribal authorities, support religious communities, cater to people living with disabilities, and commit to eliminating the “water mafia.” The spokesperson made it clear that the party will not engage with groups that are ideologically opposed to these core principles.
Contextualizing the 2024 National Elections
When questioned about the MK Party’s lack of governance in KwaZulu-Natal despite winning the province in the 2024 national elections, Mahlangu attributed the outcome to pre-existing political maneuvers. He alleged that the ANC and the DA had negotiated long before the May 29, 2024 elections, referencing an ANC coalition conference held at the University of the Western Cape and high-level ANC delegations sent abroad to study coalition governance.
Mahlangu characterized the current national Government of National Unity (GNU) as essentially an “ANC-DA coalition” with minor additions from parties like the PAC. He argued that the ANC had effectively “sold” its voters to the DA and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), stating that the MK Party refuses to enter arrangements where it is not genuinely invited or where it would betray the people’s mandate.
Leadership and Negotiation Strategy
Regarding the formation of a dedicated negotiation team, Mahlangu confirmed that any coalition discussions would be handled directly by the party’s top leadership collective. This includes party President Jacob Zuma, two deputy presidents, and struggle stalwart Mr. Willis Mchunu, alongside the national officials of the party.
At the time of the address, with 60% of the votes counted, the MK Party was tracking at approximately 4% in the broader metropolitan area. Mahlangu noted that the electoral map still showed significant uncalculated regions, which are expected to shift in the party’s favor as the final counting concludes.
