Political Analysis
Background: MKP Enters the Race for the First Time
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) is contesting local government elections for the first time this year. This new player has raised concerns for the African National Congress (ANC), especially in KwaZulu‑Natal, where the ANC’s performance in the 2024 general elections was weak.
ANC’s Worries in KwaZulu‑Natal
Expert Opinion from Zakhele Ndlovu
University of KwaZulu‑Natal political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu says the ANC has reason to be worried. He points out that the party’s support is likely to keep falling.
ANC’s Structural Overhaul
After the disappointing general election results, the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) reshuffled its KwaZulu‑Natal leadership in February 2025:
- Disbanded the provincial leadership led by Sboniso Duma.
- Created an interim team headed by Jeff Radebe (convener) and Mike Mabuyakhulu (coordinator).
- Later, after concerns from ANC Secretary‑General Fikile Mbalula about slow rebuilding, the NEC replaced Radebe with Mabuyakhulu as the new convener.
- The new Provincial Task Team (PTT) now includes former eThekwini mayor and SACP leader James Nxumalo as coordinator.
The goal was to rebuild the party from the branches up to regain voter trust.
Impact of the SACP Running Solo
Ndlovu on the SACP Effect
The South African Communist Party (SACP), which previously campaigned with the ANC as part of the Tripartite Alliance, has decided to contest the elections on its own. Ndlovu believes this will hurt the ANC, but not dramatically, because the SACP does not have a large base of supporters.
He adds: “The ANC is going to continue to bleed as the SACP contests, although the issue of the SACP is not going to be that bad for the ANC, because the SACP does not enjoy much support.”
Voter Apathy and Distance Issues
Ndlovu also highlights two major factors that could further erode ANC support:
- Many voters have lost confidence in the local government system and feel their lives are not improving.
- People who work far from where they are registered to vote often refuse to travel long distances to polling stations.
He illustrates: “A person who works in Durban but registered to vote in Port Shepstone would not waste his/her money traveling to vote.”
These trends, according to Ndlovu, will keep ANC support declining.
MKP’s Strategy: Fresh Chance in eThekwini
Willies Mchunu’s Perspective
Former ANC KwaZulu‑Natal chairperson Willies Mchunu, now the MKP provincial elections convener, says the party’s edge is that it has never governed a municipality before.
He explains: “People will be giving us a chance for the first time, and it will be the first time for them to experience being governed by the MKP. The ground is fertile for us, but we must avoid internal weaknesses that could ruin the opportunity.”
Mchunu keeps the exact tactics secret, saying revealing them would help opponents.
SACP’s Stance: Not Opportunistic
Mbulelo Mandlana’s View
SACP national spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana stresses that his party is not running simply to attract disgruntled ANC members.
He states: “Our strategy is based on articulating a specific perspective as a communist party in relation to our local government election approach. It really does not concern us who left the ANC to wherever because if that is the case, we would be running an opportunistic campaign, and the communist party does not seek to do that.”
The SACP says it wants to contribute to transforming local government, not to attack the ANC.
Other Analysts Agree: ANC Neglecting Urban Centres
Siyabonga Ntombela’s Insight
Political analyst Siyabonga Ntombela agrees that the ANC should be worried. He says the party has focused on extending services to many communities but has ignored the “heartbeat of a country”—the city centres where jobs are created and business ideas are exchanged.
Ntombela adds that the ANC has lost trust among middle‑class urban voters who expect reliable water, electricity, and basic services so they can contribute to the economy.
Conclusion
The upcoming local government elections present a tough challenge for the ANC in KwaZulu‑Natal. With a new competitor (MKP), the SACP running alone, growing voter apathy, and criticism over neglecting urban economic hubs, the ANC’s traditional support base appears to be slipping. Analysts warn that unless the party addresses these issues—rebuilding trust, improving service delivery, and reconnecting with disengaged voters—its downward trend is likely to continue.
