LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Meet the candidates in eThekwini

The MK party could emerge as eThekwini’s largest political force after the Nov. 4 local elections, but winning the metro may not be enough to put it in government. Rival parties could unite to block it, repeating what happened after the 2024 provincial vote, when MK won 45% but was excluded from government.

The stakes include control of a R70 billion budget, the country’s fourth-largest metro budget after Johannesburg, Cape Town and Ekurhuleni. The ANC led eThekwini with 42% in the 2021 municipal elections, but Jacob Zuma’s MK party weakened the ANC during the 2024 elections.

Polling points to an MK advantage, although the surveys differ widely. An Ipsos poll gave MK 55% support, followed by the DA on 17%, the ANC on 10%, the IFP on 6%, ActionSA on 4% and the EFF on 3%. An August Social Research Foundation poll put MK at 33%, the DA at 23%, the ANC at 18% and the IFP at 16%.

MK has selected Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi, a 35-year-old computational and applied mathematics graduate and co-founder and CEO of GirlCode, as its mayoral candidate. Her priorities include addressing water shortages, sewage spills and power failures, tackling the housing shortage, reclaiming hijacked buildings and making the municipality safer.

The DA’s candidate, Haniff Hoosen, is a 54-year-old Chatsworth resident who has spent nearly 17 years as a member of Parliament and previously served on the metro council. He promises action against corrupt tenders, more transparent government, repairs to water infrastructure, potholes, sewage spills and streetlights, as well as improved sanitation and the recovery of uncollected debt. IFP candidate Mkhuleko Hlengwa, the deputy transport minister, has not yet committed to specific promises. ActionSA is also fielding Zwakele Mncwango.

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We are speaking about the heart of our economy. We are speaking about the heart of KZN’s economy. We are speaking about a metro whose influence extends beyond its municipal boundaries.