Not lifting the foot off the pedal, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) will use the by-elections as a launching pad to test its strength building up to the 2026 local government elections.

MKP, the biggest party in KZN in terms of votes, has contested several by-elections in the province and Gauteng, another heartland of the Jacob Zuma-led party.

In June, the party contested by-elections in KZN and won Ward 11 in Umzumbe, south of KZN.

The party will once again throw its hat in the ring in next month's by-election in Ward 14 Ray Nkonyeni Municipality on the south coast.

Thamsanqa "Pat" Madlala is the candidate the party has chosen for the contest.

The ward became after former ANC councillor Sabelo Malunga, also Zuma’s relative, dramatically resigned earlier this year after allegations that he was an MKP member.

In a statement, the ANC Tolomane Mnyayiza region said Malunga’s resignation is ‘good riddance’ because it was allegedly established that he was secretly working with the newly formed political party.

The party’s Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa, a former advisor to Zuma during his tenure as state president, said the party will hold the by-elections to ready itself for the upcoming local polls.

"We are not sitting on our laurels following the positive showing at the May elections. We are continuing without work on the ground. These by-elections elections will help to gauge our support ahead of 2026," said Dr Mbanjwa.

Despite the MKP only bagging one ward after contesting several by-elections, Dr Mbanjwa said the MKP was "working the ground".

"The ground is fertile, and people are flocking to the MK Party in droves because we represent the people. The by-elections are a good training ground to assess even the people who contest as our candidates," he said.

Senior MK Party leaders were expected to join in the charm offensive campaign in the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, in a bid to win the ward.

Ward 14 has over 10 000 residents, but not all of them were eligible as some were not of voting age, while others chose not to vote.

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