MK Party supporters in UMhlathuze have been left disappointed after party president Jacob Zuma failed to attend Saturday’s rally. Zuma’s face appeared on posters promoting the rally, but he was a no-show.
Before the party’s KZN leader, Willie Mchunu, took to the podium, several speakers were repeatedly interrupted by supporters demanding to know, “Ukuphi uZuma?” Where is Zuma?
The mood grew increasingly tense, with some supporters visibly angry and others voicing their frustration despite attempts to control the crowd.
Mchunu later apologized to supporters on Zuma’s behalf and addressed the crowd in an attempt to calm tensions, saying that Zuma will not always be able to attend all party activities.
“I had an opportunity to speak with the office of the president, and they explained why and how he was not able to come to this planned engagement. I understood that explanation, and that explanation made us take another decision as provisional leadership, that we will need to meet with the leadership of this region and explain to them why the president couldn’t come.”
MK Party supporters from uMhlathuze and other parts of the King Cetshwayo District have gathered at Esikhawini College Sports Grounds, where they are singing and dancing ahead of Jacob Zuma’s arrival.
The party is campaigning to take control of uMhlathuze Municipality in the… pic.twitter.com/9GZ1l4EJEr
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 3, 2026
The MK Party has strengthened its campaign as it seeks to take control of uMhlathuze Municipality in the upcoming local government elections.
The party’s Secretary General, Sibonelo Nomvalo, has urged the locals to go out in their numbers to vote on the 4th of November.
“Come the 5th of November, we will start here in KwaZulu-Natal and take a lot of municipalities because the people we trusted to lead us and free us from poverty have forgotten about us, the voters. They only remember themselves and their families.”
MK Party supporters have gathered at Esikhawini College Sports Grounds in uMhlathuze for a mini rally led by the party’s KZN provincial leader, Willis Mchunu. Supporters from across the King Cetshwayo District say they will take control of uMhlathuze Municipality #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/gLEK91i3hr
— Gcinokuhle Malinga (@Logic_Malinga) October 3, 2026
Zuma to address MK Party mini rally in uMhlathuze
Reporting: Gcinokuhle Malinga
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