Did MK party snub Bongani Baloyi’s mayoral ambitions in Joburg?

Former DA Midvaal mayor, Bongani Baloyi. Picture: Neil McCartney Questions have been raised as to whether former Midvaal mayor Bongani Baloyi has a chance of becoming the MK party’s mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg. According to theSunday Times, there is a group within the MK partypushing for Baloyito become the face of the party in the City of Johannesburg.

But on Wednesday, the party released a list of names to lead the MK party election campaign in Joburg and other parts of Gauteng, and Baloyi’s name is not on it. In his media statement on Wednesday, 6 May, the party’s secretary-general, Sibonelo Nomvalo, said that the formation of these regional task teams is meant to position the MK party as the only sound political alternative towards rescuing a collapsing local government system in South Africa. Baloyi joined the MK party in 2024 after his party, Xiluva, suffered a major blow at the last general elections.

Before forming Xiluva, he was a DA success story as the mayor of Midvaal. He left the DA to join ActionSA’s leadership in Gauteng, but also left there after a falling-out with the party’s senate. Political analyst Theo Neethling toldThe Citizenon Thursday that there are questions about Baloyi’s ideological consistency, bearing in mind his political history.

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“His joining the MK party is probably the most significant step in his political journey. On the one hand, this can be seen as pragmatic politics – a recognition that small parties like Xiluva have little chance of exerting major national influence. “On the other hand, it raises questions aboutideological consistency, as Baloyi’s image of good governance and institutional stability is not necessarily easily compatible with the more populist and confrontational style of the MK party,” said Neethling.

According to Neethling, Baloyi has support from some within the MK party to take up the position of the party’s mayoral candidate for Joburg. “The question is whether this translates into widespread support. Whether he can become the face of MK’s campaign in Johannesburg is debatable.

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