Engineer in the Arena: Zwakele Mncwango Poised to Lead ActionSA’s eThekwini Charge

As eThekwini gears up for a bruising local government election, the political chessboard is taking shape. The king in ActionSA’s local campaign is set to be a familiar, combative figure: Zwakele Mncwango. Senior party sources confirm the 48-year-old electrical engineer and current caucus leader is the frontrunner to be the party’s mayoral candidate, aiming to unseat the ANC-led coalition in the troubled metro.

Mncwango, a man known more for holding press conferences at burst sewer mains than for backroom politicking, is keeping his cards close. “No official announcement has been made,” he told IOL. But within his party, the logic is clear. “He is the face of the party in eThekwini and is well supported. This makes him the ideal choice,” a senior member revealed.

From DA Stalwart to ActionSA Spearhead

Mncwango’s journey mirrors the turbulent realignment of KwaZulu-Natal’s opposition politics. A qualified engineer with an MBA, he cut his teeth in the Democratic Alliance (DA), rising to lead its eThekwini caucus and even standing as the party’s premier candidate. His defection to ActionSA marked a significant shift, bringing institutional knowledge and a sharp, service delivery-focused critique that has become his trademark.

In council chambers, he is a relentless critic of the ANC-IFP-EFF coalition’s handling of the metro’s infrastructure collapse, particularly the chronic sewage pollution poisoning rivers and beaches. His background lends a technical, data-driven edge to his political attacks, resonating with residents tired of pipe dreams and empty promises.

A Crowded and Unforgiving Race

The battle for eThekwini will be a multi-front war. The DA has already fired the starting gun, with candidate Haniff Hoosen actively campaigning on grassroots issues. Despite the DA being part of the provincial unity government, it remains outside the city’s ruling coalition, positioning itself as a clean alternative.

The metro is a classic hung municipality, governed by a fragile ANC-led alliance. Waiting in the wings is the wildcard: Jacob Zuma’s MK Party. Despite its own internal ructions, MK’s strong general election showing in KZN suggests it will be a formidable disruptor, potentially splitting the vote and further complicating any coalition mathematics.

The Stakes: More Than Just Politics

For residents, this election is about more than political musical chairs. It’s about a city on the brinka city of crumbling roads, undrinkable water, and economic stagnation. Mncwango’s probable candidacy represents ActionSA’s bet that a campaign built on competent, technically-sound governance and relentless accountability can cut through the noise.

If selected, his mission will be clear: to translate widespread frustration into a viable voting bloc that can either win outright or become the indispensable kingmaker in a post-election coalition. The engineer is preparing to step out of the council chamber and onto the main stage, hoping to convince eThekwini that it’s time for a different kind of builder.