By Celani Sikhakhane
- The MK party is contesting Ward 16 in by-elections in Mtubatuba, a historically IFP-held area, with a strong female candidate.
- Recently joined by prominent figures like Willies Mchunu and Dali Mpofu, MK is growing its base, focusing mainly on the 2026 local elections.
Aggrieved Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party rank and file members, who still believe the May general elections were rigged, have set their sights on a by-election next month to regain lost ground.
MK members believe that they were denied outright victory in KZN during the 29 May general elections.
The growing political outfit is now facing another test with the by-elections in Ward 16, Mtubatuba in the north of KwaZulu-Natal.
The 4 December by-elections are to replace the late IFP councillor Qhina Mkhwanazi.
The ward is highly contested with several political parties extensively upping their ante in a late bid to win the hearts of voters.
MK is among the new political parties contesting that ward which has been in the hands of the IFP for many years under the leadership of the late Mkhwanazi, who was once the mayor of the Inkosi Mtubatuba municipality.
Prominent MK force Godole Mdletshe told Scrolla.Africa that this is the biggest test yet, but they don’t take it as a harbinger for the 2026 local government elections.
“We do believe that this is going to be our test as ground forces of the MK party but it can’t be interpreted as a reflection of 2026 because there’s a lot of corruption during the by-elections,” said Godole.
He said although they campaign hard for by-elections, their main focus is on the 2026 local government elections.
The MK is fielding a female candidate, Zanele Malinga.
The by-elections come as the party is making inroads in the strongholds of the ANC and the IFP.
Its popularity is also growing as it has recently been joined by top guns of the EFF, including a former KZN premier and senior leader of the ANC and SACP, Willies Mchunu.
Since the arrival of Mchunu, the party has been hard at work to gain more members.
Last week it announced that it had welcomed 400 members from the IFP in Umlazi townships in the south of Durban.
The party has also been joined by the likes of former EFF national chairperson Dali Mpofu, former EFF MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane and many others.
The party has gained a ward in Umzumbe on the South Coast of KZN under the Ugu district municipality after by-elections held there a few months ago.
Pictured above: The MKP will face a serious test at the upcoming Mtubatuba ward 16 by elections under the new Commander Willies Mchunu.
Source: MKP
