By Celani Sikhakhane
The Umkhonto Wesizwe party has intensified preparations for the 2026 local government elections in KwaZulu-Natal by appointing ANC veteran Willies Mchunu to lead the party in the province.
Mchunu, popularly known as Makhuzemoyizela, was introduced on Friday by the MK leadership at a media briefing in Sandton, Johannesburg, attended by party leader and former president Jacob Zuma.
The MK party’s appointment of Mchunu comes as it plans to defeat the ANC and IFP in KZN municipalities in the 2026 local government elections.
Mchunu’s defection to the MK has dealt the ANC a huge blow and shattered its hope of bringing him back.
He quit the ANC at the beginning of this month, citing the attack he suffered from the ANC’s leadership after raising concerns over the party’s coalition arrangement in KZN’s government of provincial unity.
After he announced he was leaving the ANC, many of the party’s comrades flocked to his home to plead with him not to go.
In one of the meetings, Mchunu broke into tears as he narrated the emotional pain he suffered due to the insults from the ANC.
On Friday, he said his decision to join MK was based on wanting to alleviate the suffering of the working class under the ANC and the current government.
Mchunu was the most senior and trusted ANC leader in KZN. The party sent him to talk to Zuma in January after Zuma formed the MK party in December and announced that he would vote for it in the May general election.
Mchunu had led the ANC and SACP in KwaZulu-Natal.
He once served as MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs under then-premier Dr Zweli Mkhize.
He also served as the speaker of the KZN Legislature.
However, he became more popular when he was appointed MEC for Transport and Community Safety, replacing Bheki Cele.
This is where he earned his nickname Makhuzemoyizela because of his skilled approach to dealing with taxi violence in KZN.
He was then appointed as premier of KwaZulu-Natal after Zuma, his close ally and friend, had forced Senzo Mchunu, now the police minister, to resign as premier.
Willies Mchunu recently served as the Agricultural Development Agency’s board chairperson, but his contract was not renewed last month.
Pictured above: MK party president Jacob Zuma at a briefing session with new members Willies Mchunu and Busisiwe Mkhwebane in Sandton.
Source: Nkosinathi Zuma/MKP
