Sihle Mavuso
The high-stakes meeting between the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) in Nkandla on Monday ended without key issues being resolved.
The meeting was part of the IEC’s stakeholder outreach programme in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the highly anticipated 4 November local government elections.
The IEC wanted the MKP’s cooperation in ensuring a peaceful and credible election, while the MKP used the meeting to raise “concerns” about the 2024 elections and its lack of trust in the commission.
In its previous outreach programme in the province almost two weeks ago, the IEC met Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, traditional leaders including King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, leaders of political parties including the ANC, IFP and NFP, faith-based formations and civil society organisations.
The IEC said the engagements provided a constructive platform to exchange views on the state of democracy, electoral readiness, and the collective responsibility to foster a peaceful and credible electoral environment in the province.
After the meeting with the IEC, the MKP issued a statement saying no formal agreement had been reached at this stage, but that both parties had agreed to continue discussions.
“As a critical stakeholder in the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections, the MK Party engaged the IEC with a clear commitment to strengthening electoral integrity and ensuring that the democratic will of the people is fully respected,” it said.
“The deliberations reflected a mutual willingness to engage, although no formal agreement was reached at this stage. Both parties have, however, agreed on the importance of continued dialogue and will convene a follow-up meeting to further advance discussions on key issues,” it said.
The party also said that it would proceed with its “legal and constitutional processes” against the IEC over its disputed claims relating to the 2024 national and provincial elections, with one of the matters expected to be heard in June.
“The MK Party reiterates that it will proceed with its legal and constitutional processes regarding allegations of stolen votes and vote rigging against the IEC.
“This course of action remains essential in safeguarding the credibility of South Africa’s electoral system and ensuring accountability. The MK Party remains resolute in its commitment to defending the voice of the people and will continue to engage all relevant institutions in pursuit of free, fair, and transparent elections,” it said.
The statement was issued after sources told Inside Politics that MKP leaders had insisted during the meeting that the 2024 elections were “stolen” from the party and that it had lost faith in the IEC to conduct free and fair elections in November.
The party has called for the upcoming local government elections to be postponed until the legal challenges have been adjudicated and ruled upon.
Although the IEC had not yet issued a formal statement after the meeting with the MKP, its chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, told the SABC shortly afterwards that no agreement had been reached.
“I don’t pretend to be speaking for the party; I am sure they will speak, but we walk with clarity, with our heads held high. Do we have solutions for everything? No. We must fashion solutions to things, but we will not be able to fashion those solutions without engaging…” he said.
“The elections coming in November are elections that will require concerted preparations from all electoral stakeholders.”
INSIDE POLITICS
