MK Party Unveils Metro Mayoral Candidates and Electoral Strategy Ahead of 2026 Local Government Elections
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR
MK Party Unveils Metro Mayoral Candidates and Electoral Strategy Ahead of 2026 Local Government Elections
ETHEKWINI — The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has formally announced its mayoral candidates for South Africa’s major metropolitan municipalities and launched its national campaign strategy ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The announcements were made on Friday, August 28, 2026, following a two-day high-level National Officials meeting in eThekwini chaired by Party President Jacob Zuma.
Key Metro Mayoral Endorsements
The MK Party leadership endorsed the following candidates to contest key metropolitan councils:
- Johannesburg: Bongani Baloyi
- Ekurhuleni: Thulani Shongwe
- eThekwini: Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi
- Mangaung: Mapaseka Mothibi
- Buffalo City: Mzwandile Vaaiboom
- Nelson Mandela Bay: Mvuleni Map
Campaign Launch and Operations
Alongside the candidate list, the party officially launched its "ASIBUYELE EBANTWINI" (Let Us Return to the People) campaign. The initiative signals an aggressive, ground-level mobilization campaign targeting cities, towns, and rural communities across all nine provinces.
To manage election logistics and real-time operations, the party revealed plans to establish the Gwaza Election Operations Centre in Johannesburg. Equipped with real-time election monitoring platforms, the facility will track vote counting, coordinate field operations, and respond to potential voting irregularities or disruptions.
Policy, Leadership, and Organizational Growth
The party highlighted several organizational milestones and policy updates leading into the campaign:
- People's Mandate: Prepared by Mr. Lucky Montana and Dr. Thanti Mthanti, the party's official policy mandate will undergo final review by national leadership before its public release on Friday, September 4, 2026.
- Membership Growth: The party reported registering over 300,000 new members since June 16, pointing to expanding grassroots support.
- International Relations: Ms. Zanele Ntuli was officially appointed as Head of International Relations to oversee external partnerships and global engagements.
- Community Initiatives: The party commended the ongoing work of MK Medics for providing free healthcare services to underprivileged communities.
- Nkandla Developments: The leadership noted recent findings by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) ordering the architect of the Nkandla upgrades to repay R156 million to the State. The party stated that these findings challenge previous narratives regarding President Zuma's personal financial liability.
The MK Party leadership urged all members and supporters to begin active mobilization across all regions immediately.
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