By Sihle Mavuso
The Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP) has announced mayoral candidates for six of the country’s eight metros, saying the remaining two candidates for Tshwane and Cape Town would be announced at a later stage.
The announcement was made in Durban on Friday by the party’s Secretary-General, Sibonelo Nomvalo, following a two-day meeting of the national leadership.
He said the candidates were carefully chosen and none of the candidates have a criminal record against them.
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“Regarding the criteria that we have used to appoint these members, we have been meticulous, and we have used scientific criteria which is based on their profiles and which is based on their historical contribution and credentials in the revolution. We are going to publicise all their profiles… All of them here qualify for this job, all of them have got their own good histories respectively, and we will share it with you. None of them has a criminal record,” he said.
In the City of Johannesburg, the party announced Bongani Baloyi, who once served as the mayor of Midvaal under the DA and later defected to the MKP when he closed down Xiluva, the party he formed after leaving ActionSA in March 2023.
In the City of Ekurhuleni, the party named Thulani Shongwe, who is currently serving as a member of the National Assembly (MP) in Cape Town and who shot to prominence during his input in the ad hoc committee probing the allegations that were made by Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that the justice system has been infiltrated by criminal elements.
Contrary to expectations, in eThekwini, the party named little-known Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi as its mayoral candidate. It was widely expected that the party was going to name either Zandile Gumede or Philani PG Mavundla as mayoral candidates.
Hlophe-Mkhwanazi will be up against Hanniff Hoosen from the DA, Zwakele Mncwango from ActionSA and Thabani Nyawose from the ANC, the likely candidate that would be announced by the ANC when it finally unveils its candidates for metros and big towns.
In Mangaung, the party named Mapaseka Mothibi as its mayoral candidate, while in the Buffalo City in the Eastern Cape, the face of the party is Mzwandile Vaaiboom. In the Nelson Mandela Bay metro, which is also in the Eastern Cape, the MKP named Mvuleni Map as its mayoral candidate.
Nomvalo said the endorsement of these candidates marks an important step towards consolidating the party’s electoral campaign and providing voters with clear leadership choices ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
“As the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, we will organise. We will mobilise. We will listen to our people. We will take the People’s Mandate to the masses. No one must be left behind,” he added.
Meanwhile, Nomvalo said Dr Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala and Pumlani Kubukeli, the two MPs of the party who were expelled yesterday, did not undergo any disciplinary hearing because the constitution of the party gives its leader, Jacob Zuma to appoint members to positions and fire them when he deems it necessary.
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