'It Is the Zuma Effect': MK Party Dominates KZN Election Race and Smashes Historic ANC Strongholds
Reported By: Hope Ntanzi, Zainul Dawood & Sona News Political Desk
Published: November 8, 2026 | 5 min read
Driven by the unstoppable "Zuma effect," Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party has stunned political analysts by securing outright majorities in key rural councils, leading in 18 municipalities, and relegating the governing ANC to a humiliating third place across KwaZulu-Natal in the 2026 local government elections.
Former South African president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party has delivered a seismic political shock across KwaZulu-Natal, tearing down decades-old African National Congress (ANC) strongholds to win absolute control of rural municipal councils and build insurmountable leads across the province. With final IEC vote counting crossing decisive thresholds in the 2026 municipal elections, political analysts and pollsters have officially dubbed this unprecedented electoral realignment "the Zuma effect."
MK Party Smashes ANC Strongholds
Contesting local government elections for the very first time, the MK Party secured 34.63% of the provincial vote with over 1.2 million ballots cast in its favor, locking down 243 council seats across KwaZulu-Natal.
Outright Council Victories for MK
MKP seized an overwhelming 56.27% of the vote and 10 council seats, relegating the ANC to a distant second with 30.15% (5 seats).
MKP secured outright control in iMpendle with 42.61% of the vote, and captured 47.84% (14 seats) in Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Municipality.
The "Zuma Effect" & ANC's Provincial Plunge
University of KwaZulu-Natal political expert Zakhele Ndlovu noted that the party's phenomenal performance is directly tied to the enduring mass appeal of former president Jacob Zuma.
Commanding Lead in eThekwini Metro
In the crucial eThekwini metropolitan municipality, the MK Party established a commanding lead with 43.69% of the vote. The DA sat second in the metro on 20.93%, while the once-dominant ANC plummeted to an unprecedented 16.77%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Political analysts use the term to describe how the enduring popularity and mass appeal of former president Jacob Zuma drove the MK Party to dominate historic ANC strongholds in KwaZulu-Natal.
The ANC suffered a heavy decline in KZN, dropping to third place provincially with 21.59% of the vote and losing majorities in key heartlands like Richmond and eThekwini.
Jacob Zuma's MK Party established a commanding lead in eThekwini with 43.69% of the vote, followed by the DA at 20.93% and the ANC at 16.77%.
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