By Johnathan Paoli
The Inkatha Freedom Party delivered the strongest performance in the latest round of municipal by-elections, winning three wards in northern KwaZulu-Natal, taking outright control of Nongoma and moving to within one seat of a majority in AbaQulusi ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The IFP’s most symbolic gains came in Nongoma, where it won two wards from the breakaway National Freedom Party, deepening the decline of its long-time regional rival.
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In Ward 20, Bungazeleni Manzimakhulu, the IFP won 47% of the vote, up from 37% in 2024, ahead of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party on 32%. The NFP fell to 8% from 37%, while the ANC also took 8%, down from 24%.
In Ward 7, Ngangayiphi Wela, the IFP increased its support to 55% from 38%, defeating the NFP, which dropped from 53% to 13%. MKP finished second on 21%, while the ANC secured 9%. The two wins followed the IFP’s earlier February gain in Nongoma Ward 17, meaning the party has now taken three consecutive wards from the NFP in the municipality.
Those victories push the IFP to 23 of 45 seats in Nongoma, giving it an outright council majority. Before the latest by-elections, the IFP was on 21 seats.
In neighbouring AbaQulusi Local Municipality, the IFP captured Ward 12, eMondlo Kromellenboog, from the ANC with 63% of the vote, up from 46%. The ANC fell sharply from 52% to 20%, while MKP took 12%. The result leaves the IFP on 22 seats in a 45-seat council, one short of an outright majority.
Across the KwaZulu-Natal contests, MKP again showed growing support, finishing second in the two Nongoma wards and third in AbaQulusi. But the clearest story of the night in Zululand was the IFP’s ability to turn momentum into ward victories in terrain central to its support base.
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The ANC, meanwhile, had a mixed night in the Eastern Cape rather than a clean hold of its strongholds. It retained Ward 14, Mejela Luthulini, in Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality with 63% of the vote, slightly down from 65%. The South African Communist Party polled 12%, while the African Transformation Movement rose to 11%.
The ANC also held Ward 32 in Buffalo City Metro with 80% of the vote, up from 68%, while the EFF polled 12%. Reporting said the DA did not contest the ward.
But in the clearest Eastern Cape upset, the Patriotic Alliance won Ward 7, Asherville Aberdeen, in Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality from the ANC, taking 40% of the vote. The DA finished second on 34%, while the ANC fell to 20% from 46%. The PA’s strongest showing came in Asherville itself, where it won 57% of the vote on a high turnout.
PA member and former Sports ministerial spokesperson Cassiday Rangata-Jacobs welcomed the victory as a prelude to the party’s road to the local elections. “The mood is celebratory in the Eastern Cape Beyers Naudé Municipality where the mighty, mighty Patriotic Alliance has won another ward! Vision 2026 is here! Sorry DA, Sorry ANC – Ons Baiza Niks!” Rangata-Jacobs said.
The by-elections, contested by 28 candidates from 12 political parties and two independents, were triggered largely by councillor resignations and deaths across the affected municipalities.
Overall, the results point to a shifting political landscape at the local level. The IFP’s strong showing in KZN positions it as a major contender heading into 2026, while the MKP’s steady gains suggest it could play a kingmaker role in future councils.
The ANC’s mixed performance, resilient in the Eastern Cape but weakening in parts of KZN, highlights the uneven nature of its support base.