MK Party leader Jacob Zuma has repeated his claim that the party was treated unfairly by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) during the 2024 national elections.
Speaking ahead of the November 2026 local government elections, Zuma expressed confidence in the party’s legal challenge concerning the 2024 election results.
“This case means nothing now, but we want to say that they didn’t do well by us,” Zuma said, according to Mail & Guardian.
Zuma has previously challenged aspects of the 2024 election outcome, with the MK Party alleging irregularities in the electoral process. The party’s challenge has been part of its broader dispute with the IEC over the conduct and outcome of the elections.
The MK Party won 14.58% of the national vote in the 2024 election and performed particularly strongly in KwaZulu-Natal, where it received 45.93% of the provincial vote.
The party has continued to make its concerns about the electoral process part of its political messaging, although allegations of election irregularities should be distinguished from findings established by a court or electoral authority.
Zuma is now turning his attention towards the upcoming local government elections, in which the MK Party will contest municipal elections for the first time. The party is campaigning across KwaZulu-Natal and has placed significant focus on eThekwini Municipality, the province’s only metropolitan municipality.
Zuma has asserted that the MK Party will take control of eThekwini after the November elections.
The claim comes amid a competitive political contest in KwaZulu-Natal. The MK Party became the largest party in the provincial legislature following the 2024 national and provincial elections, while the ANC has said it expects to retain control of eThekwini.
The upcoming municipal elections are scheduled for 4 November 2026, with hundreds of political parties and thousands of candidates contesting seats across South Africa. The IEC has confirmed that 547 political parties will contest the local government elections.
For the MK Party, eThekwini represents an important electoral battleground, particularly given its strong performance in KwaZulu-Natal in 2024.
Zuma’s latest remarks therefore combine the party’s longstanding objections to aspects of the 2024 election with its campaign for control of municipalities in the upcoming local polls.
Whether the MK Party gains control of eThekwini will ultimately be determined by the results of the November 4 election rather than by campaign statements.
