MK Party's Local Government Election Wins Challenged by Potential ANC, DA, and IFP Coalitions

The ANC, DA, and IFP have enough seats to form a coalition government in Msunduzi Municipality, potentially keeping the MK Party out of power despite it emerging as the largest party in the council in the 2026 Local Government Elections. The three parties have a combined 41 seats in the 81-member council, giving them the exact number needed for an outright majority. The MK Party secured 31 seats and would need the support of other parties to govern.

In the Msunduzi Municipality, the ANC and DA each won 17 seats, while the IFP secured seven. The Independent Councillors grouping won three seats, with another seat going to an independent councillor. Other parties that secured seats include ActionSA, the Afrika Mayibuye Movement, EFF, Freedom Front Plus, and South African Communist Party (SACP), each with one seat. This diverse distribution of seats sets the stage for complex coalition negotiations.

The situation in eThekwini is similar, with the MK Party emerging as the largest party with 86 seats in the 223-seat council. However, the combined ANC, DA, and IFP tally doesn't quite make a majority. The DA won 57 seats, the ANC 37, and the IFP 15. Other parties, including ActionSA, EFF, and Freedom Front Plus, also secured seats, adding to the complexity of potential coalitions.

University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Dr. Siyabonga Ntombela believes the Government of National Unity (GNU) arrangement could influence coalition negotiations in Msunduzi. The ANC, DA, and IFP may replicate their national partnership at the municipal level. However, in eThekwini, the GNU partners would only hold 109 seats, three short of a majority, and would need some smaller parties to get on board.

The MK Party has appointed a seven-member National Negotiations Team to lead coalition discussions across municipalities following the elections. The team, appointed by party president Jacob Zuma, includes key figures such as Duduzane Zuma, Tony Yengeni, and Advocate Dali Mpofu. The team will engage prospective coalition partners, assess political and policy alignment, and make recommendations on governance arrangements.

The MK Party has identified several parties it is prepared to engage with, including the ANC, IFP, ActionSA, EFF, African Transformation Movement, and SACP. However, the party has ruled out working with the DA, which has also indicated it is not prepared to enter into an arrangement with the MK Party. This stance could complicate coalition negotiations, according to Dr. Ntombela.

The IFP has also appointed an eight-member Coalition Negotiating Team to lead and oversee its coalition discussions. The team will be guided by the party's principles, electoral mandate, and commitment to good governance. The IFP's approach will focus on stable administrations, service delivery, financial accountability, clean governance, and local economic development.

Key points

• The ANC, DA, and IFP have a combined 41 seats in the 81-member Msunduzi Municipality council, enough to form a coalition government.
• The MK Party has appointed a National Negotiations Team to lead coalition discussions across municipalities.
• The IFP has also formed a Coalition Negotiating Team to guide its coalition discussions.