JOHANNESBURG, Monday 9 November 2026 — The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s coalition negotiator, Dali Mpofu, says the party will enter negotiations over municipal governments without preconditions, signalling a potentially more flexible approach following the 4 November local government elections.
Mpofu made the remarks in an interview with 702’s Clement Manyathela, according to Eyewitness News on Monday morning, as political parties began negotiations to form administrations in municipalities where no party secured an outright majority.
MK Party signals flexibility in negotiations
Mpofu said the party would consider proposals from other political formations before deciding which coalition arrangements to support.
He argued that municipal service delivery should take precedence over ideological differences when parties negotiate local government arrangements.
His comments follow earlier statements by MK Party spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu, who said prospective coalition partners would need to engage with the party’s positions on land, economic transformation and African identity.
The latest remarks suggest a distinction between the conditions for beginning negotiations and the political principles that would ultimately inform an agreement.
The party has not announced that it has abandoned its policy positions or formally withdrawn any previous negotiating demands.
KwaZulu-Natal central to coalition discussions
The MK Party emerged as the third-largest political party nationally in the municipal elections, with particularly strong support in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to Eyewitness News, the party received 34.35% of the provincial vote, placing it in a potentially influential position in negotiations over municipal administrations.
The party is also a leading contender in eThekwini, where no political formation secured an outright majority.
Its willingness to engage with other parties could influence negotiations involving the African National Congress (ANC), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
However, no formal coalition agreement has been announced.
Zuma retains final authority over agreements
The MK Party announced on Saturday that it had established a national negotiating team to oversee coalition discussions.
The team will assess prospective partners, negotiate proposed agreements and make recommendations to the party leadership.
Former president Jacob Zuma, who leads the party, retains final authority to approve or reject any proposed coalition arrangement.
Provincial and municipal party structures are not permitted to conclude independent agreements without authorisation from the national leadership.
The centralised arrangement means that discussions between local representatives will not necessarily result in binding agreements.
Coalition negotiations enter next phase
The MK Party’s latest position comes as parties face pressure to establish functioning municipal administrations following an election that produced numerous hung councils.
Its negotiating approach could prove particularly important in KwaZulu-Natal, where the party’s electoral support gives it a substantial role in discussions over local government control.
The outcome will depend on whether prospective partners can agree on governance priorities, leadership arrangements and the distribution of municipal responsibilities.
Formal agreements will remain subject to approval by the MK Party’s national leadership.
