MK Party wins another by-election in KZN, defeats ANC in Mandeni municipality

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has won another by-election in KwaZulu-Natal. (Rosetta Msimango/City Press)

The MK Party (MKP) won another councillor seat on Wednesday,this time in the Mandeni Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC),the party garnered 41.89% of the total votes cast in Ward 18 in the local municipality,which is situated in the iLembe District Municipality.

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On Thursday,the IEC said: "The [MK] Party won a seat in Ward 18 of the Mandeni [Local] Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal during the by-elections on 30 April 2025."

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"The new councillor is Lindani Xhakaza of the MK Party,in Ward 18 in the Mandeni [Local] Municipality – KZN291. The party won the seat with 41.89% of the total votes cast. Voter turnout was 48.18%. The African National Congress previously won the seat in the 2021 local government elections."

Meanwhile,regional secretary of the General Gizenga Mpanza region in Ward 18,Sphesihle Zulu,welcomed the IEC's decision to investigate an incident involving a presiding officer and an official.

READ | MK Party wins former DA stronghold in KZN,ANC complains of voter fraud

Zulu accused the IEC official of moving a voter management device (VMD) from the voting station to an undisclosed location under the guise of charging it.

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He also claimed an official was trying to mobilise people against voting for the ANC.

According to Zulu,ANC party agents reported the matters to the relevant authorities,which prompted the IEC to convene a special inter-party meeting.

After the incident,Zulu said the ANC called on both the presiding officer and the concerned official to fully cooperate with the investigation.

READ | MK Party wins first Western Cape ward

In a statement,the IFP said while it did not win the ward,its support increased tremendously,thanks to the leadership of the party's president,Velenkosini Hlabisa,and KZN chairperson Thami Ntuli.

Deputy chairperson Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala said: "This growth in support of the IFP is a good foundation as we are moving towards the 2026 local government elections,which will be highly contested. The IFP will not release the pedal but will go back to the drawing board,strategise and use the experiences gained from this by-election to come back stronger."