MKP convener in KZN, Willies Mchunu says his party wants to take Umngeni municipality from the DA.
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The Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has listed the DA-run Umngeni Local Municipality along with eThekwini, the province's only Metro, as municipalities it wants to run after the upcoming local government elections.
In an interview with Willes Mchunu, the party's convener in KwaZulu-Natal, he said the MKP will campaign vigorously to wrest control of the Umngeni municipality from the DA.
Mchunu, a former Premier and former deputy provincial chairperson of the ANC, said the DA municipality was on top of the list together with eThekwini, Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg), Umhlathuze (Richards Bay) Ray Nkonyeni (Port Shepstone) and Newcastle.
Mchunu's departure from the ANC and move to the MKP has been widely interpreted as part of a broader realignment within KZN politics, where party loyalty was not guaranteed.
“We are going to take Umngeni. We want to govern that municipality as well as eThekwini and Msunduzi. We also target the other strategic municipalities which are economic hubs in the province,” said Mchunu.
The DA won Umngeni from the ANC during the 2021 local government elections.
Mchunu said despite the MKP's good showing in the 2024 national and general elections, his party would not use that performance as yardstick for this year’s local government elections.
He said the local government elections was different and scrutiny would fall on the candidates who represent the party.
He said the party had started work on the ground in eThekwini and Msunduzi to gauge what people need in those municipalities.
“In 2024 people voted for the party and Zuma. In the upcoming elections, people will be looking at the candidates and whether they trust them or not.
Mchunu was recently reappointed as provincial convenor.
In a statement issued by the party’s Secretary-General, Sibonelo Nomvalo last week, the MK Party confirmed the establishment of a provincial elections task teams following what it described as a national consultative process involving ordinary members.
Announcements were made for four provinces: KZN, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Gauteng and the process sought to identify leadership capable of co-ordinating and managing the party’s electoral programme.
Mchunu will be supported by deputy convener Lindiwe Dlamini and provincial elections co-ordinator Simphiwe Mpungose, alongside a broader team tasked with mobilising support and building structures on the ground.
Other key figures in the provincial team include deputy co-ordinator Sanele Shandu, provincial elections organiser Gobizizwe Makhanya and his deputy Thutukani Jeza.
The financial structure of the campaign will be led by fundraiser Nonceba Ngcobo and her deputy Steven Moodley, while Mkhuseli Mlengane takes on the role of spokesperson.
Security co-ordination will be overseen by Nomafu Ngubane.
Nomvalo said each provincial structure will consist of 22 members, with the current list set to be expanded to full capacity.
KZN has already been allocated a team of 20 members, while Limpopo and Gauteng have 16 each, and the Eastern Cape 14 members.