Fatshimetrie: The rise of the uMkhonto weSizwe party and the role of Jacob Zuma
For several weeks, the South African political landscape seems to be dominated by the uMkhonto weSizwe party, led by former president Jacob Zuma. The recent decision by 45% of KwaZulu-Natal voters to abandon the African National Congress (ANC), the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in favour of Zuma’s new party is a striking example.
This wave of support has also resulted in the joining of many leaders of non-seat parties, attracted by the promise of a monthly grant of R350 offered by Zuma’s party. Similarly, political and legal figures, such as John Hlophe and former EFF MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane, have joined the ranks of the uMkhonto weSizwe party, thus strengthening its parliamentary base.
Zuma’s party’s strategy appears to be to bring together a broad range of political actors, from former bureaucrats to activists from diverse backgrounds, under its banner in order to consolidate its hold ahead of the 2026 municipal elections. This movement of adhesion and rallying to Nxamalala, Zuma’s stronghold, illustrates the rise of this new party on the South African political scene.
However, this dynamic is not without provoking reactions among other political parties and opposition actors. With a constitution that gives Zuma very broad powers and that undermines democratic principles, the uMkhonto weSizwe party worries some observers about the balance of power within the South African political scene.
Furthermore, potential alliances between Zuma’s party and other political actors, such as the South African Communist Party (SACP), raise questions about the future of the political landscape and balances of power in South Africa. As the SACP considers shifting its votes to other parties due to tensions with the ANC, a rapprochement with uMkhonto weSizwe could redraw traditional political lines.
In this changing context, Jacob Zuma’s role as the undisputed leader of uMkhonto weSizwe is growing stronger, generating both support and concern within South Africa’s political class. The coming years will be critical for the future of democracy in South Africa, as the country prepares for a new chapter in its political history under uMkhonto weSizwe and its charismatic leader, Jacob Zuma.