MK party backs Mkhwanazi amid internal power struggle

The MK is capitalising on the budget fallout and its support for Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to attract voters, all while battling internal struggles.

- By Nonkululeko Njilo

With the growing public support for KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party says it is “more resolute than ever” in its bid to govern KwaZulu-Natal.

The party has spent months attempting to take control of the province's governance, so far without success. It is now seemingly using its nationwide campaign in support of Mkhwanazi, and is also calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s resignation and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s removal as part of its broader 2026 local government elections campaign.

But first, the party wants to revisit its initial plans of taking over the province where it got the most votes after the 2024 elections. One of the ways in which the party sought to take over was through a motion of no confidence that it wanted to bring against the incumbent premier, Thami Ntuli. However, this did not materialise, as the party did not have the buy-in of parties such as the National Freedom Party (NFP).

The MK party emerged as the biggest political party in the province after the 29 May elections, winning 37 seats in the 80-seat KZN legislature, followed by the IFP, which won 15 seats, the ANC (14), the DA (11), the EFF (two) and the NFP (one).

The party's decision to contest the election results delayed coalition talks and gave the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP an opportunity to form a governing coalition with a combined 41 seats, ultimately leaving the MK party out in the cold.

Daily Maverick understands that the talks are now back on, though it remains unclear whether they will succeed or not. National spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said: “We are more resolute than ever to govern and to take power. We're more intentional than ever because we can see that these people are fumbling; they don’t know what they're doing right now,” Ndhlela said.