Durban — The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) is making inroads and poaching prominent leaders from other political parties, the latest being Nathi Ngwenya, provincial co-ordinator of Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA party in KwaZulu-Natal.
Ngwenya was officially welcomed by the Jacob Zuma-led MKP on Friday.
This comes after the defection of Ntlantla Radebe, who led the ActionSA Umzimkhulu structures until last week when he dumped the party in favour of the MKP.
Ngwenya told the Daily News that he made a “wise” decision by joining the MKP.
“This is the party that represents the people. I took this decision because, right now in South Africa, the MK Party is the only party fully aligned with the aspirations of the people on the ground.
“We will work to make the party even more attractive to the electorate,” said Ngenywa.
He said he was joining the MKP “to serve the people”.
“We are working to ensure that we free our people from poverty and ensure that we all achieve in our country’s economy, not just a select few,” said Ngwenya.
The MKP was buoyed by its recent victory, winning a ward from the ANC during last week’s by-elections in KZN.
The victory came during the nine by-elections held in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday in which the MKP won Ward 14 from the ANC, with Thamsanqa “TP” Madlala as the new councillor.
The ward became vacant after ANC councillor Sabelo Malunga, suspected of conspiring with the MKP, resigned from the party in May.
The MKP appears to be consolidating its ground ahead of the 2026 local government elections following the party’s somewhat stunning performance in the national polls.
The party won 58 seats in the National Assembly and 37 in the 80-member KZN provincial legislature.
The party has also recently welcomed Colleen Makhubele, a former member of Cope and leader of the South African Rainbow Alliance (Sara). Last month, Bongani Baloyi, the former leader of Xiluva, joined the MKP.
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