MK Party eyes Gauteng metros in bid to unseat ANC in 2026 municipal elections

JOHANNESBURG - The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party says all gloves are off as it sets into motion early preparation for 2026's local government elections. 

The MK Party says it has set its sights on a number of big municipalities in Gauteng, threatening to unseat the ANC. 

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Formed and led by Jacob Zuma, the MK Party hammered in the ANC in the general elections of 2024 when it became the country's third-largest opposition party.  

Celebrations marking Zuma's 83rd birthday were held across the country on Saturday. 

A lecture was held in Gauteng, where some leaders used the occasion to outline the party's ambitions. 

Despite its impressive showing at the 2024 polls, the MK Party is still disputing the outcome. 

Secretary general Floyd Shivambu says the party has enough evidence to convince the court of election rigging after it launched its third attempt at litigation earlier this month. 

He believes the party, which obtained close to 15% of the votes, actually secured a two-thirds majority. 

"Elections were not free and fair. A lot of votes of uMkonto weSizwe were stolen. We’ve got empirical evidence as MK party leadership that the votes were stolen - that’s why we’re going to court."

Shivambu says the party won't spare any resources in its bid to govern. 

"But also, we’re going to decisively illustrate that MKP represents the majority of people in South Africa when we go to the 2026 local government elections and the 2029 general elections."

The polls in 2026 will be the first shot at local government for Zuma's party.