ANC Scrambles to Save KZN Unity Government Amid MK Party Power Play

KZN Coalition on the Edge

KwaZulu-Natal’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) faces its biggest crisis since formation as the National Freedom Party (NFP) announced it would withdraw from the coalition last Friday. The sudden move has thrown the province’s delicate political balance into chaos, creating the very real possibility that the MK Party (MKP) could seize decisive power in the provincial legislature.

Sources within the ANC describe the announcement as a “shockwave” moment, threatening either the collapse of the unity government or a dramatic realignment of parties.

ANC Moves Quickly to Stabilise the Coalition

Immediately after the NFP’s decision, the ANC reached out to its former coalition partner. Mike Mabuyakhulu, ANC provincial task team coordinator, warned in a letter that the withdrawal could have “far-reaching consequences” for governance and service delivery in KZN.

After days of silence, the NFP has agreed to meet with the ANC later this week, offering a glimmer of hope that the coalition might be salvaged.

“The door is not fully closed, but time is short. Political uncertainty affects ordinary residents most,” said a senior ANC official familiar with the discussions.

DA Appeals to NFP to Prevent Collapse

The Democratic Alliance has also entered the fray. DA provincial chairperson Dean Macpherson wrote to the NFP, urging dialogue to avoid the “total collapse” of the GPU.

Macpherson emphasised that instability in the province has real consequences for residents, many of whom have endured years of poor service delivery, unreliable infrastructure, and governance setbacks.

“We still regard the NFP as partners for progress in KZN,” Macpherson said. “We want clarity on the concerns raised publicly by NFP leadership and hope to resolve them within the existing coalition framework.”

MK Party Seeks to Capitalise

While the ANC and DA work to hold the coalition together, the MK Party has been quietly strategising. The party has approached the NFP with proposals to form a new alliance alongside the EFF. Such a bloc would hold 40 of the 80 provincial legislature seats, enough to unseat the current ANC-IFP-DA coalition.

The MKP, which currently holds 37 seats, is the largest party in KZN following the May 2024 general elections. Political analysts warn that the NFP’s decision could reshape power dynamics in the province entirely, giving the MKP a rare chance to consolidate influence.

Mixed Results for the Current Coalition

The GPU, formed without the MKP, was initially hailed as a stabilising force. However, internal tensions, policy gridlock, and persistent service delivery failures have left many communities frustrated and distrustful of political promises.

Analysts note that the poor, unemployed, and vulnerable residents feel the most impact, often experiencing little tangible improvement despite coalition agreements.

“For years, ordinary KZN residents have seen promises of progress, but the reality has been uncertainty and hardship. Now political manoeuvring is putting even that fragile progress at risk,” said a political commentator.

The Clock Is Ticking

As talks unfold between the NFP, ANC, DA, and potentially the MKP, the province’s future hangs in the balance. Will the unity government hold, or is KZN about to witness a dramatic reshuffle of power?

This story is developing.