‘Zuma is unbending iron’: Mbalula concedes ANC saw MKP leading KZN

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula addresses the media at the National Results Operations Centre at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.

The ANC knew KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) was slipping from its grasp, but Jacob Zuma’s MK Party still delivered an electoral blow, with the ANC admitting the party had anticipated the looming political disaster.

ANC secretary-general Mbalula acknowledged that the party’s leadership had expected a difficult election in the province, describing Zuma as “insimbi kayigobi” – unbending iron.

“We knew that this was going to happen in KZN,” he said.

The MK Party is polling almost 35% in KZN, leading in 17 councils and controlling three after Wednesday's local government elections. The ANC, with nearly 21%, leads in three councils and controls one.

Nationally, the ANC stands at 31%, while the MK Party is approaching 10%.

The results represent a significant erosion of the ANC’s traditional dominance in the province, leaving several municipalities without outright majorities and forcing parties into difficult coalition negotiations.

The setback comes despite the ANC’s attempts to reverse its declining fortunes in KZN and Gauteng.

The party reshuffled provincial structures and appointed interim leadership ahead of the polls in an effort to regain political ground.

However, Mbalula suggested the outcome was not as devastating as the party’s worst-case internal projections.