MK PARTY DESTROYS ANC IN KZN — ZUMA EFFECT HITS DIFFERENT
Jacob Zuma’s MK Party has obliterated ANC strongholds across KwaZulu-Natal, winning outright control of three rural councils and leading in 11 municipalities — pushing the ANC into third place in the province.
With counting at 66% in KZN, MKP took 34.63% of the provincial vote, securing 243 council seats. The ANC collapsed to just 21.59%.
In Richmond — an ANC heartland for decades — MKP won 56.27% of the vote to the ANC’s 30.15%. MKP also took outright control of iMpendle and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma municipality.
In eThekwini metro, MKP dominated with 43.69%, while the ANC crashed to just 16.77%.
UKZN political expert Zakhele Ndlovu called the performance striking, especially given the party’s internal turbulence since 2024. “Much of the party’s continued support can be explained by the enduring popularity of former president Jacob Zuma,” he said, describing it as “the Zuma effect.”
Ndlovu said all eyes are now on whether MKP can secure an outright majority in eThekwini or will need coalition partners.
Nationally, MKP took 9.01% and 290 seats, locking in third place behind the ANC and DA.