Mk Party Gains Momentum With Fourth By-election Win In Kzn

The u Mk hontho we Sizwe MK Party has secured its fourth municipal by-election victory in KwaZulu-Natal since the start of 2025, winning ward 18 of the Mandeni Municipality, on the North Coast.

This marks the second time former President Jacob Zuma's party has wrestled control from the African National Congress ANC, with the ruling partys candidate trailing in third place.

The MK Party's candidate, Lindani Xhakaza, claimed the ward with 41 of the vote, while the ANC garnered only 27. This comes after the ANCs Phendukani Mabhida had previously won the ward with a two-thirds majority in the 2021 municipal elections, before he was tragically gunned down in February.

Political analyst Professor Bheki Mngomezulu says these consistent victories should serve as a warning to other political parties not to underestimate the MK Party.

"These by-elections should send a warning that the battle is not over yet. There are still more battles to be fought before the 2026 municipal elections. If other parties ignore the MK Party, they will do so at their own peril," he states.