Where the facts about the MK come from

MK is on the IEC list in 229 of 257 councils, including all 8 metros. It is in fewer councils in two provinces. It is in 23 of 30 councils in the Western Cape and 11 of 31 in the Northern Cape.

The MK Party's constitution says its aim is "uniting all anti-colonial, anti-imperialist and anti-racist progressive forces in the country." These words mean it opposes rule or control by outside powers. Its website says it is dedicated to "transforming South Africa into a nation where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive." MK had not published a 2026 local government manifesto by 18 Oct 2026. Its mayoral candidates say they would start by reviewing how the cities are run. Its latest full plan is its 2024 national manifesto, not a 2026 council promise.

eThekwini: Our sources do not make this clear. MK did not exist in 2021. In April 2025 it won Ward 110 from the DA in a by-election (a vote to fill one empty seat). So it has at least one seat. We found no source on its role in the council.

We found no source that says MK leads or helps run any council. We also found none that says it holds a mayor, deputy mayor or speaker post. The speaker is the councillor who runs council meetings. 2026 is its first municipal election.

Since June 2024 MK has won at least 9 ward seats in by-elections, which are votes to fill one empty ward seat. They are uMzumbe Ward 11 (Jun 2024), Rustenburg Ward 45 (Aug 2024), Ray Nkonyeni Ward 14 (Sep 2024) and Richmond Ward 2 (Mar 2025). Then come Saldanha Bay Ward 1 (Mar 2025), KwaDukuza Ward 28 (Apr 2025) and eThekwini Ward 110 (Apr 2025). The last two are Mandeni Ward 18 (Apr 2025) and Mandeni Ward 17 (Nov 2025). It won none of the 2026 by-elections. These ran from January to 24 June 2026, the last round before the election. But it came second in three Nongoma wards.

The MK told the IEC about no donations above the disclosure limit, from July 2025 to June 2026. Checked 20 October 2026.

Before this, it last declared R380 555 in April to June 2024 (1 donation).

Gifts over R100 000 from one donor, named in the reports: R380 555. Smaller gifts, R100 000 or less from one donor (names not published): R0. Membership fees and levies: R2 462 339. From the Political Representatives Fund: R30 912 150. From Parliament and provincial legislatures: R194 925 576.

P Kubukeli, an MK Party MP, said this in a debate in Parliament after the US attack on Iran. He says the United States and Israel work together to start wars in other countries. He says the MK Party backs Iran, Palestine and Venezuela, as Cuba once backed South Africa's freedom struggle. He says the war already hurts South Africa's economy. Our source does not say what step he wants the government to take. In its own words: “It is therefore our revolutionary duty to stand in solidarity with Iran, Palestine, Venezuela and others facing external oppression.”

The MK Party said this in a party statement. Israel was planning to send ground troops into Lebanon, its neighbour to the north. The MK Party is against this and backs the people of Lebanon and Palestine. It fears the fighting could grow into a much bigger war, even a nuclear one. It wants the UN, the African Union and South Africa's BRICS partners to press Israel to stop. In its own words: “We call for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of peace negotiations before irreversible damage is done.”

W M Douglas, an MK Party MP, said this in Parliament during a debate on changes to this year's budget. Will for Peace was a BRICS navy exercise held in South Africa. Douglas thanks China, Russia and Iran for taking part. Douglas says the US broke UN rules in Venezuela and could one day act against South Africa. He sees the training as a warning to the US. He wants South Africa's own army, navy and air force rebuilt after years of cuts. In its own words: “The MKP, therefore, welcomes the BRICS Naval Will for Peace joint exercises and thanks China, Russia and Iran for participating to defend peace and justice”

The MK Party said this in a party statement. NATO is a military alliance of the US, Canada and many European countries. The MK Party says NATO made the war in Ukraine worse by giving Ukraine long-range weapons. It fears this could lead to nuclear war, after Russia changed its rules on nuclear weapons. It wants South Africa to take no side, push for peace talks and oppose NATO's role in Ukraine. In its own words: “As Pan-Africanists and as a non-aligned progressive party and peace advocates, the MK Party, under the leadership of President Jacob Zuma, condemns these dangerous provocations by NATO and the West.”

W M Douglas, an MK Party MP, said this in a debate in Parliament. MPs were discussing a report on a visit to China by a group of MPs. He says power in the world is shifting, and China leads this through BRICS, a group that includes South Africa. He criticises South Africa for holding on to the G20, which he says Western powers run. He praises the BRICS bank, which he says lends without strict conditions. In its own words: “China through BRICS and the Shanghai co-operation is reshaping a multipolar world order rooted in sovereignty, infrastructure and solidarity.”

W M Douglas, an MK Party MP, said this in a debate in Parliament. The debate was about the US decision to stop its aid to South Africa. Douglas says the MK Party is not America's enemy and wants trade with it. He says the party takes no side between the world's big powers. If the US uses trade against South Africa, he says BRICS partners like China and Russia are another option. In its own words: “We are not anti- West, we are not antiwhite, nor do we have hostility towards Europe, China, Russia, the Middle East or Latin America, because this country and MK are nonaligned”

W M Douglas, an MK Party MP, said this in a debate in Parliament on the US decision to stop aid. PEPFAR is a US programme that has paid for HIV care in South Africa. Douglas says ending it puts millions of lives at risk. He wants the US to bring it back, or to wind it down slowly. He also wants new talks on AGOA, a US trade deal, and respect for South Africa's land reform. In its own words: “Despite this crisis, MK stands for diplomatic engagement with America. We call on the United States to immediately restore Pepfar or to work on a phase out process.”

The MK Party said this in a statement when Donald Trump became US president, IOL reported. The party hoped Trump would end unfair systems that it says earlier US governments kept going. The same IOL report says the party turned against Trump a year later, after US military action in Venezuela. Our source does not say what the party wanted South Africa's government to do. In its own words: “a beacon of hope for dismantling systems of exploitation and oppression that were perpetuated under previous administrations.”

The MK Party said this in a party statement, IOL reported. US forces had carried out a military operation in Venezuela and removed its president, Nicolás Maduro. The MK Party is against this and says Venezuela has the right to run its own affairs. IOL reported this as a turn against Donald Trump, whom the party had welcomed a year earlier. In its own words: “The MK Party unequivocally and resolutely condemns the United States military assault on the sovereign Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”

MK MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla resigned from Parliament after criminal charges were laid against her, Daily Maverick reported. She is accused of tricking party supporters into fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine. These are accusations, and our sources show no court ruling on them. In its own words: “uMkhonto Wesizwe party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has resigned from Parliament after criminal charges were laid against her for allegedly duping party supporters to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine.”

The MK Party said it was "not involved" in recruiting the men, Daily Maverick reported. The paper said this was although party members had been recruited to train in Russia. In its own words: “Nhleko said the party was “not involved” in the matter, despite party members being recruited to train in Russia.”

IOL reported that at least 17 South African men said they were recruited for what they thought was bodyguard training linked to the MK Party. They say Zuma-Sambudla and others recruited them. These are claims, not court findings. In its own words: “The scandal emerged after at least 17 South African men claimed they were recruited, allegedly by Zuma-Sambudla and others, for what they believed was bodyguard training linked to the MKP.”

The MK Party complained that it was left out of Parliament's team of MPs sent to Russia in July 2026, IOL reported. It said leaving it out goes against the idea of including all parties. In its own words: “The MK Party has raised concerns over its exclusion from Parliament’s delegation to the Russian Federation, saying the decision undermines the principles of inclusivity, accountability and multiparty democracy.”

Mtolo, Mr. Jeffrey Bhekumndeni. Name of the Company or Partnership: LADYBIRD ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT PARTNERSHIP Ltd (INCORPORATED IN UNITED KINGDOM) | Type of Business Activity: Energy

Mtolo, Mr. Jeffrey Bhekumndeni. Name of Orgnaization: FOCUS CONSULTANCY PARTNERSHIP LIMITED (INCORPORATED IN ENGLAND AND WALES) | Type of Business Activity: CONSULTANCY

Mtolo, Mr. Jeffrey Bhekumndeni. Name of the Company or Partnership: LADYBIRD ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT PARTNERSHIP Ltd (INCORPORATED IN UNITED KINGDOM) | Type of Business Activity: Energy

Mtolo, Mr. Jeffrey Bhekumndeni. Name of Orgnaization: FOCUS CONSULTANCY PARTNERSHIP LIMITED (INCORPORATED IN ENGLAND AND WALES) | Type of Business Activity: CONSULTANCY

Litchfield-Tshabalala, Doctor Khanyisile. Name of Sponsor: Tax Justice Network Africa (TJN),African Forum and network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD), and Akina Mama wa Afrika | Description of Journey: To attend the meetings of APNIFFT (African Parliamentary network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation), which I chair. It is a continental network of volunteer MPs across Afrika constituted to fight against illicit financial flows. | Purpose of Travel: I am the chairperson of Continent, is it to attend meetings and training