Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Zululand come from
Every fact on the Zululand page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
Which party controls the council?
Dated reports
As of 25 Jan 2026: The IFP said it would not hand over control of the Zululand District Municipality to the NFP. The NFP had demanded it as a condition for staying in the provincial coalition (a group of parties that run the government together). The IFP denied any earlier agreement to transfer control.
Daily News. Published 25 January 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-3 and 10 ('The NFP has accused the IFP of failing to honour an earlier agreement...')
As of 28 Jun 2024: IFP candidate Michael Khumalo was elected mayor of the Zululand District Municipality. Khumalo succeeded Thulasizwe Buthelezi, who became KwaZulu-Natal MEC (a provincial minister) for Co-operative Governance. The IFP said there is no local government agreement between the IFP and NFP.
The Mercury. Published 28 June 2024.
Where to look: paragraphs 3, 4 and 16
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 15 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 1 of 2, seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The seats voters choose directly, by party. Inkatha Freedom Party: 8. African National Congress: 3. National Freedom Party: 3. Economic Freedom Fighters: 1.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 1 of 2, seat table, Total Party Seats column
What the official records say
Audit result
The Auditor-General gave the Zululand district council an unqualified audit opinion with findings for 2024-25. It got the same result in 2023-24.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: 'Audit outcome for 2024-25' box and the change from 2023-24 under it (audit of separate financial statements, finalised by 30 April 2026)
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