UMGABABA, KwaZulu-Natal — The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has intensified its campaign for the 2026 Local Government Elections with a major mini-rally in uMgababa, south of Durban, where First Deputy President Duduzane Zuma confirmed that party leader and former President Jacob Zuma will return to the campaign trail before the November polls.
Addressing thousands of supporters gathered at the uMnini Sports Ground in Ward 98, Duduzane Zuma moved to quell two weeks of speculation regarding his father’s health. He assured the crowd that the former president is recovering and will be back on the ground before the elections. Looking beyond the current local government polls, Duduzane Zuma boldly predicted that Jacob Zuma will make a political comeback to become South Africa’s president again in 2029, describing his eventual return as “something beautiful” for those who have been written off and disrespected.
The rally highlighted the MK Party’s aggressive electoral strategy. Party leadership reiterated their insistence that they originally secured a two-thirds majority in the 2024 national elections but were cheated out of the victory. Carrying that confidence into the 2026 Local Government Elections, the party maintains it will secure a two-thirds majority locally. When pressed on the sidelines about the possibility of coalitions, leadership dismissed the idea, stating they have no intention of entertaining power-sharing agreements and are focused entirely on taking over all municipalities in the province.
Beyond national leadership, the mini-rally focused heavily on pressing local service delivery issues. eThekwini Mayoral candidate Mxolisi Phakathi, affectionately referred to by supporters as “Apostle,” used the platform to outline his priorities if elected. He pledged to urgently tackle the severe water and electricity crises plaguing the uMgababa area, where some residents have reportedly gone without tap water for up to two years.
These promises of infrastructure repair, including fixing potholes and addressing high youth unemployment, resonated with the local youth in attendance. Young attendees emphasized that political promises must translate into tangible community change. Their key demands centered on youth empowerment, job creation for graduates, and a stronger fight against drug and substance abuse. They urged the youth of South Africa to turn out and vote on November 4 to force action on these critical water and electricity shortages.
On the national stage, Duduzane Zuma also used his platform to address the issue of immigration. He issued a stern message to undocumented foreign nationals living in South African cities, calling on them to respect local laws and people. He urged those without the proper paperwork to regularize their status or leave the country, emphasizing that South Africans respect the laws of other African and Western nations when traveling abroad.
The campaign event took place against the backdrop of recent political violence in the region. The area is still recovering from the shooting deaths of two African National Congress (ANC) members who were killed while campaigning door-to-door last week. However, the mood at the MK Party rally remained resolute, with supporters indicating they are not intimidated by the violence. While the exact motives behind the killings remain unconfirmed, local sources familiar with the victims suggested that one of the deceased had survived a previous assassination attempt linked to non-political disputes, leading to speculation that the recent murders may not have been politically motivated.
As the November 4 elections draw closer, the MK Party’s leadership remains focused on consolidating its grassroots support, turning local service delivery grievances into electoral momentum across the province.
