CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE — Ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections, former President Jacob Zuma addressed a mobilization rally in Delft, urging supporters to vote and reclaim the land. The MK Party is setting its sights on the Western Cape, aiming to unseat the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the November polls despite securing less than 1% of the provincial vote in the 2024 general elections.
During the rally, Zuma heavily criticized the country’s Roman-Dutch legal framework and called on citizens to “take our country.” He emphasized the need for mass voter turnout to reclaim the land, framing the upcoming municipal polls as a critical moment for the party’s base to assert their political power.
In a recent media interview, MKP Member of Parliament Adil Nchabeleng outlined the party’s ambitious roadmap for the province. Acknowledging that the party secured only 11,263 votes—merely 0.58% of the provincial tally—and failed to win a single seat in the provincial legislature during the 2024 general elections, Nchabeleng insisted their strategy has fundamentally shifted. He declared that the MK Party intends to unseat the DA entirely, secure a two-thirds majority, and take over the Cape Metro, including the City of Cape Town as their anchor base.
When pressed on the demographic realities of the province, noting that the MK Party’s 2024 electorate was 98.5% black while the Western Cape has a majority Coloured population, Nchabeleng defended the party’s grassroots outreach. He claimed the party now boasts broad representation, asserting that 50% of their Western Cape membership is Coloured. He highlighted the inclusion of Indian, white, Muslim, Christian, San, and Khoi communities under the party’s banner, and noted that the MK already has two ward councillors actively serving in the region.
The interview also tackled the nearly two-decade-old corruption charges related to the 1999 arms deal that continue to hover over Zuma. Nchabeleng dismissed the charges as unproven attempts to tarnish a highly accomplished former president, praising Zuma’s past tenure for its economic growth, infrastructure development, and institutional building. He further positioned the MK Party as the leading ethical voice in the current parliament, citing their efforts in pushing for the impeachment of President Cyril Ramaphosa and supporting motions of no confidence.
Addressing questions regarding internal party stability, it was noted that the MK Party is on its eighth secretary-general since its formation in December 2023. Nchabeleng clarified that the leadership changes occurred strictly at the national level, insisting that the Cape Town regional leadership remains entirely stable. He attributed the national turnover to former officeholders simply returning to their primary official responsibilities and confirmed that current Secretary-General Nonvalo is now providing steady guidance. Nchabeleng concluded by emphasizing that the party is built from the ground up and funded entirely by grassroots support, without reliance on external donations.
