Cape Town — The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party secured a big win in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) after the party won the by-elections in Richmodn in the province.
The MK Party dethroned the African National Congress (ANC) in the Richmond Municipality, located south of Pietermaritzburg, and marked the party’s third by-election win since 2024 and the first in 2025. Previously, the ANC had won with more than 80% of the vote in 2021, Daily Maverick reported.
The MK Party won with 54% of the votes compared to the ANC’s 39%, while the EFF secured 5% and the IFP 1%. The MK Party won by 523 to win its first seat in the uMgungundlovu district. The MK won 3 out of 4 districts and performed best in the Siyathuthuka Community Hall, receiving 264 more votes than the ANC.
BREAKING NEWS!
The UMkhonto weSizwe Party has secured victory in the Ward 2 Richmond, Umgungundlovu by-election with 54% of the vote.
A heartfelt thank you to all the commanders and supporters who cast their votes for the MKP. pic.twitter.com/5AEfso4xLt
— uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (Official) (@MkhontoweSizwex) March 13, 2025
According to IOL, MK Party provincial convenor Willies Mchunu congratulated the party’s structures for working tirelessly to get the win and said it was a crucial step towards the party’s 2026 goal.
“Congratulations to the commanders who secured a big win in Richmond. As the MK Party celebrates this victory, they must also support their councillors in translating this win into organisational support throughout Richmond. Well done MK Party,” Mchunu said.
Mchunu praised the Moses Mabhida working team and the Richmind leadership for the win. He encouraged the party to shift focus to Ward 4 and Ward 28 in Mooi Mpofana and KwaDukuza Local Municipalities in the upcoming by-elections.
This is the second by-election win for the MP after winning its first in the Umzumbe Local Municipality last year. The party did well in Moses Mabhida in last year’s general elections, particularly in Richmond, where it won all seven wards.
However, the MKP’s win will not affect the power balance for now, as the ANC governs the municipality alone. In the 14-seat council, the ANC has 10, while the MKP, IFP, EFF, and the DA hold one each.
Picture: X/@matinyarare
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
