Our Viewpoint | MK Party’s coalition invitation to ANC

The ANC has made it clear it has no intention of entertaining the MK Party’s call for co-governance in KwaZulu-Natal. The MK Party’s gains in KwaZulu-Natal came at the ANC’s direct expense, costing it its majority in the province and weakening its position nationally. That outcome forced the ANC into a coalition with the DA — a position it would not have chosen under different circumstances.

Against that backdrop, the ANC is unlikely to engage. The political damage from the 2024 elections is still fresh, and the MK Party’s rise in KZN was built on drawing support directly from the ANC. There is also a wider calculation.

The ANC cannot risk destabilising its national coalition by opening the door to the MK Party. Nor can it afford to appear weak. Engaging on the MK Party’s terms would do both, particularly at a time when it is trying to project stability.

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While the ANC is on the back foot in relation to the Madlanga Commission, that pressure does not translate into leverage for the MK Party. If anything, it reinforces the ANC’s need to close ranks. The MK Party itself is not without challenges.

Continued reshuffling of leadership positions points to instability within its ranks and raises questions about its organisational depth and readiness to govern. The EFF also appears to be in decline. It has lost several senior figures, while Julius Malema’s name has surfaced in both the Madlanga Commission and an ad hoc parliamentary committee, adding to pressure on the party.

Aligning with the MK Party would risk elevating a direct competitor that continues to position itself as the custodian of the ANC’s legacy, while offering little in return in terms of stability. Coalition politics requires more than numbers. It depends on trust, stability and shared direction — none of which currently exist between the ANC and the MK Party. For now, the ANC’s position is clear: it will keep its distance.

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