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Vol 67 No 21

Published 23rd October 2026


South Africa

Zuma’s scare clouds the coalition maths

Uncertainty over the 84-year-old’s health adds risk to municipal elections that could reshape governance in the country’s economic heartland

Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) is heading into the 4 November local government elections riding a wave of Zulu nationalism and anger against the African National Congress. For many in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the party has become a vehicle for challenging a sense of political exclusion. They believe the ANC leadership has sidelined the province despite its contribution to the party’s electoral strength. Others see it as a new conduit for Zulu nationalism.

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