The MK Party has won outright control of Richmond Local Municipality in the 2026 local government elections, marking its first municipal victory in KwaZulu-Natal. According to the final results from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the party secured 56.27% of the vote and 10 of the 17 council seats. This result gives the MK Party a majority without needing a coalition partner.
The victory comes after preliminary claims by the MK Party that it had won 25 wards in the Msunduzi area. These claims were based on figures collected by party agents at polling stations. However, the IEC has not yet verified these results. The official count is still ongoing, and the full results will be published once the verification process is complete.
This win is significant for the MK Party, which is a political faction of the African National Congress (ANC). The Richmond Local Municipality was previously a stronghold of the ANC. The MK Party’s success in this area represents a shift in local political power in KwaZulu-Natal. The party’s leader, Julius Malema, has been a prominent figure in South African politics, known for his radical rhetoric and alignment with the ANC’s former leadership.
The 2026 elections were the first local government elections since the ANC’s decline in national power. The results reflect changing political dynamics in South Africa, with new parties gaining traction in key regions. The IEC’s role in verifying the results remains crucial to ensuring transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
