Duduzane Zuma Predicts ‘All-Out Win’ For MK Party As He Casts His Vote In Durban

MK Party deputy president Duduzane Zuma has predicted an “all-out win” for the party as he cast his ballot in Durban on Wednesday, expressing confidence in its performance in its first local government elections.

Zuma, the son of former president and MK Party leader Jacob Zuma, voted at Roseland Primary School in Newlands East, where political parties had set up gazebos outside as voters queued to cast their ballots.

Speaking to IOL, Duduzane said the party was expecting a decisive victory after months of campaigning.

“[It] is certainly going to be an all out win ... that is what we expect and that is what we’ve been working for,” he said.

“The time for talking is done.

“The mission will be accomplished today without doubt.”

eThekwini Emerges As A Major Battleground

The MK Party, formed by Jacob Zuma in late 2023, is contesting local government elections for the first time.

The party made a significant electoral breakthrough in the 2024 national and provincial elections, securing approximately 14.6% of the national vote and becoming the largest party in KwaZulu-Natal, where it received around 45% of the vote.

Despite its performance in the province, the party was excluded from the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government after the ANC, DA, IFP and National Freedom Party (NFP) formed a coalition.

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Its performance in eThekwini is one of the major stories being watched in Wednesday’s local government elections. The municipality includes greater Durban and has attracted 69 political parties contesting the election.

In the 2021 local government elections, the ANC won 96 of the council’s 222 seats, falling short of an outright majority. The DA secured approximately 26% of the vote, followed by the EFF with around 10% and the IFP with approximately 7%.

Polls Put MK Party In Strong Position

An Ipsos poll published in September placed the MK Party on 55% support in eThekwini, suggesting that it could become the largest party in the metro.

However, Ipsos's subsequent October research indicated that MK's support had declined by eight percentage points, although it remained ahead of its competitors. Polls measure voter intentions at the time of fieldwork and do not determine the final election outcome. <Cite refs={["turn895171search1","turn895171search2"]}/>

Oxford Economics Africa senior political analyst Louw Nel previously identified eThekwini as a municipality to watch, particularly because of the MK Party's first participation in local government elections.

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“All eyes are on eThekwini and the MKP, on debut,” Nel told IOL.

“If MK gets close to 50% of the vote, they could assume control of their first metro with the help of smaller parties or the EFF and change the political landscape.”

The MK Party's mayoral candidate is Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi, who is contesting against incumbent ANC mayor Cyril Xaba, DA candidate Haniff Hoosen, IFP candidate Mkhuleko Hlengwa, EFF candidate Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi and ActionSA's Zwakele Mncwango.

Duduzane Takes On Senior Party Role

Duduzane assumed the position of MK Party deputy president earlier this year after his father removed former deputy president John Hlophe from the position.

At the party's final election rally, known as Sithatha Omasipala — meaning “we are taking the municipalities” — at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on Sunday, Jacob Zuma addressed supporters and criticised the country's political leadership.

The former president, who had recently been hospitalised, made his first public appearance following his hospital stay at the rally. He vowed to “end the GNU” and repeated the party's claims that it had been “robbed” in the 2024 elections, despite its legal challenges being unsuccessful.

Jacob Zuma was expected to cast his vote at Ntolwane Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.

Voting stations are scheduled to close at 9pm.