MK Party urges Indian communities to reconsider political loyalties ahead of local elections - IOL

MK Party urges Indian voters in eThekwini to reconsider political loyalties.

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has urged Indians in eThekwini to reconsider their political loyalties ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

The party’s regional chairperson, Mkhanka Zuma, is calling on voters to hold the DA and IFP accountable for their coalition arrangements with the ANC.

The call comes amidst the Ipsos poll conducted between June and July, which put the MK Party at 55%  among voters who had expressed a party preference in eThekwini.

Zuma said Indian communities played an important role in the 2024 national and provincial elections by voting against the ANC, helping reduce its electoral support to below 50% nationally and denying it an outright majority.

“It is deeply disappointing that, after all the efforts made to address the injustices and failures of the past 30 years, those efforts have seemingly been undermined by the DA and IFP, which entered into coalition arrangements that brought the ANC back into government through the back door,” he said.

Zuma said the upcoming elections presented an opportunity for voters to express their dissatisfaction with the DA and IFP over their political decisions.

“It is time to demonstrate your frustration with their decisions and make it clear that political parties cannot take your votes for granted while making decisions that contradict the very mandate you entrusted to them,” he said.

He also called on Indians to become more actively involved in ward committees, particularly in racially diverse wards, arguing that community participation is essential to improving service delivery and ensuring accountability at the local government level.

Zuma said ward committee members should be motivated by a genuine commitment to community development rather than the monthly stipend of R1,500 paid to members.

The MK Party regional chairperson said the party believed the established political order had failed many communities and that a change in political leadership is necessary to address residents’ concerns.

He encouraged minority communities, including Indians, to give the MK Party an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to improving living conditions in eThekwini.

Zuma said residents should also work alongside the party by participating in ward committees, engaging with local political structures and holding councillors accountable for their commitments.

“Meaningful change requires more than casting a vote every five years; it requires continuous community participation, active citizenship and collective responsibility,” he said.

He added that communities need to move beyond political loyalties and prioritise local development, service delivery and accountability.

“Let us work together to build a better eThekwini, improve service delivery, strengthen accountability and ensure that every community receives the attention and development it deserves,” Zuma said.