The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has removed its eThekwini mayoral candidate, Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi, just 12 days after announcing her as its preferred candidate for the municipality ahead of South Africa’s 2026 local government elections.
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SABC News reports that Hlophe-Mkhwanazi was unveiled on 28 August as the MK Party’s candidate for eThekwini, in one of six metropolitan municipalities where the party announced mayoral candidates.
Her removal was confirmed yesterday, 9 September 2026, amid an internal investigation into allegations surrounding the party’s candidate lists submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The party has now replaced her with its national chairperson, Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi, who will contest eThekwini on behalf of the MK Party.
Candidate list allegations trigger investigation
The dramatic change follows concerns within the MK Party that candidates who had been duly nominated were allegedly removed from the lists submitted to the IEC.
According to SABC News, the party alleged that Hlophe-Mkhwanazi and National Party Liaison Committee member Sibonelo Maphumulo were involved in the manipulation of candidate lists. MK Party president, Jacob Zuma, subsequently ordered an investigation into the allegations.
The party said the investigation would establish the facts and ensure anyone found responsible for wrongdoing would be held accountable under its rules and procedures. Hlophe-Mkhwanazi and Maphumulo were also removed from the National Party Liaison Committee pending the investigation’s outcome.
The allegations have not been established as fact, and the investigation is expected to determine what happened to the disputed candidate lists.
Recently nominated Ethekwini Mayoral candidate Zandile Hlophe- Mkhwanazi has been removed as MKP mayoral candidate and has been replaced with Pastor Mxolisi Phakathi, Zuma has also disbanded the recently formed Presidential Task Team.
Is Nomvalo safe makunje?
Witbooi
Mnakwethu… pic.twitter.com/OhEnkOsyPM— Azania (@azania1023) September 9, 2026
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But for now, Phakathi takes over
The party has moved quickly to install Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi as its new mayoral candidate.
The Citizen reports the change comes at a critical stage of the election campaign, with South Africa’s local government elections scheduled for 4 November 2026. The MK Party has identified eThekwini as one of the key metros in which it hopes to make significant gains.
The party had initially unveiled six metropolitan mayoral candidates, including Bongani Baloyi for Johannesburg, Thulani Shongwe for Ekurhuleni, Mapaseka Mothibi for Mangaung, Mzwandile Vaaiboom for Buffalo City and Mvuleni Mapu for Nelson Mandela Bay.
The MK Party’s decision to replace its candidate so soon after her unveiling comes at a politically sensitive moment.
For now, Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi becomes the face of the party’s eThekwini campaign, while the circumstances surrounding Hlophe-Mkhwanazi’s removal remain subject to the outcome of the internal investigation.
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Feature Image: X/@kapa_robert
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