IFP names Mkhuleko Hlengwa as its eThekwini mayoral candidate

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has announced Mkhuleko Hlengwa, currently Deputy Minister of Transport, as its mayoral candidate for eThekwini ahead of the 2026 local government elections. The announcement was made at a party briefing on Monday.

Party lineup for key KZN municipalities

The IFP unveiled three candidates for important KwaZulu‑Natal municipalities during the briefing. Alongside Hlengwa, the party named Sizwe “Mavava” Sikhakhane as its deputy mayoral candidate for eThekwini and Councillor Xolani Ngwezi as its mayoral candidate for the City of uMhlathuze.

Experience and roles cited by the IFP

IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa highlighted Hlengwa’s background in government and the party. The source documents that Hlengwa previously served as national chairperson of the IFP Youth Brigade, has been a member of the National Assembly since 2012, served as chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), and was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport after the 2024 general election. He is also an alumnus of the University of South Africa and serves as an IFP spokesperson.

On Sikhakhane, the party said he has leadership and entrepreneurial experience, noting his history with the IFP, including serving as chairperson of the IFP Youth Brigade in eThekwini from 2006 to 2010 and his recent election as chairperson of the IFP’s Durban Central Region.

uMhlathuze contender and party strategy

Hlabisa named Councillor Ngwezi as the party’s mayoral candidate for uMhlathuze and noted Ngwezi’s academic ties to the University of Zululand and experience in local and national government. The briefing said Ngwezi had served as a chief whip in the National Assembly, participated in committees on Water and Sanitation and Basic Education for four consecutive terms, and held roles on the IFP’s Political Oversight Committee.

IFP on youth leadership and campaign focus

Hlabisa described the choice of candidates under 45 as deliberate, saying:

“The IFP believes in the ability of the youth of South Africa to lead. We believe that young people must not simply be spoken about as the future. They must be given opportunities to lead in the present.”

He also outlined the party’s campaign priorities as focusing on jobs, service delivery, clean governance, safe communities, functioning municipalities and opportunities for young people. On the party’s preparedness, Hlabisa said:

“The IFP is ready for the upcoming local government elections. These announcements demonstrate that the IFP is prepared not merely to contest elections, but to govern. We have the candidates.”

What the announcement means for eThekwini

The IFP said it was taking a different approach in eThekwini by fielding both mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates and expressed confidence that Hlengwa’s experience and understanding of public administration would position him to lead the party’s campaign to restore effective, accountable and people‑centred governance in the metro.