Zuma's uMkhonto Wesizwe Party delivers impressive showing in KZN's by-elections
While the MK Party is barely two months old, it is already showcasing just how difficult KZN will be when the country holds its general elections
Former President Jacob Zuma addresses members of the media under the banner of new party uMkhontho We Sizwe on 16 December 2023. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto Wesizwe Party delivered yet another impressive showing in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)'s by-elections.
After receiving 28% of the voter share in KZN’s uPhongolo on Wednesday, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) garnered 36.3% and the African National Congress (ANC) claimed 33.4%.
This is the second strong showing by the ANC splinter group that is backed by the former president.
Last week, it received 21% in Vryheid’s by-elections.
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While the MK Party is barely two months old, it is already showcasing just how difficult KZN will be when the country holds its general elections
South Africa is now firmly in a countdown towards the national polls with the MK Party announcing itself with a splash in some of the recent by-elections.
Independent elections analyst Wayne Sussman explained what this means.
"Not only will it affect the ANC, like it did in uPhongolo, it can also affect the IFP, EFF [Economic Freedom Fighters] and NFP [National Freedom Party]. The MK are showing they have the potential to take votes from a range of established players in the KZN political system."
KZN, and Gauteng are shaping up to be some of the battlegrounds in the fast-approaching elections.
This is while Gayton McKenzie's Patriotic Alliance has also made inroads in the DA-run Western Cape.