MK Party Surges to Early Lead in KwaZulu-Natal Local Election Results

Early Results Show MK Party Leading in KwaZulu-Natal

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, founded by former president Jacob Zuma, has taken an early lead in KwaZulu-Natal as votes from the province’s recent local government elections began to be tallied. By Thursday morning, just over 32% of the votes had been counted, placing the MK Party ahead of its rivals as shown at the Independent Electoral Commission’s results operations centre at Durban ICC.

Competing Parties Trail MK in Initial Count

The African National Congress (ANC) held second place with just more than 23%, closely followed by the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) at almost 22%. The Democratic Alliance (DA) trailed in fourth with 13% of the votes tallied so far. Other parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the South African Communist Party (SACP), saw modest initial support at 1.57% and 1.30% respectively, while the Freedom Front Plus had just over 1%.

The vote-counting process remained in its early stages, with only a small portion of KwaZulu-Natal’s more than five thousand voting districts yet accounted for. None of the province’s 44 councils had decided results at this stage. The landscape remains fluid with outcomes set to shift as more ballots are tallied.

Seat Wins and MK’s Newcomer Status

According to the early figures, MK had secured 11 ward seats, while the DA had three. This election marks the MK Party’s debut in local government polls after its launch in December 2023. The party had already achieved notable success at the provincial level in KwaZulu-Natal during the 2024 general election, gaining 45.35% of the vote but ultimately not holding power due to a multi-party coalition involving the IFP, ANC, DA, and NFP.

The Contest for eThekwini

Within KwaZulu-Natal, eThekwini is considered a major political prize. In the 2021 municipal elections, the ANC had emerged victorious with 42% of the vote and has since run the city with coalition support from smaller parties.

Analysts have previously highlighted that if the MK Party comes close to a 50% threshold, it could assume control of eThekwini, especially with support from smaller parties or the EFF. Such a development could significantly reshape the province’s political landscape.

Voter Turnout and Progress Across SA

By 5pm on Wednesday, approximately 2.5 million people had voted in KwaZulu-Natal, making it second only to Gauteng, where about 3 million voters cast their ballots. On a national scale, early Thursday figures indicated that 12% of votes had been tallied, with the DA ahead in Gauteng and the Western Cape, and the ANC leading in the Eastern Cape.

IEC Responds to Security Concerns

The vote counting process received extra scrutiny following the IEC’s confirmation that unused ballot papers and a special voting stamp were stolen from a voting station in eThekwini. In response, staff involved have been relieved of duty, and chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo assured that the stolen stamp could be distinguished from those used on election day.

To maintain electoral integrity, the IEC has emphasized that sealed ballot boxes will be opened and every paper checked for the commission’s official security stamp. All parties await the full tabulation and verification of results as these critical checks continue.

Next Steps in the Electoral Process

The IEC is required to officially declare election results within seven days from the close of polls. After that declaration, new councils across KwaZulu-Natal and nationwide must hold their first meetings within 14 days, during which speakers and mayors will be elected.

• Counting continues in more than 5,000 voting districts in KwaZulu-Natal.
• Party dynamics may shift as more ballots are counted.
• Safety and transparency remain top priorities for election officials.

Looking Ahead

As results continue to flow in, KwaZulu-Natal’s electoral contest remains tightly watched by political observers and residents alike. The early lead by the MK Party signals shifting allegiances, but with much of the count still incomplete, the province’s final political landscape is yet to be decided.

Observers anticipate updates from the results centre as more districts report and the political picture clarifies in the days ahead.