The Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party has continued to make its presence felt outside its traditional base of KwaZulu-Natal after winning a by-election in Saldanha in the Western Cape.

This was the party’s first by-election victory in the Western Cape where the competition has always been between the DA and the ANC — and to a lesser extent the Good Party and the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

The MKP’s victory comes after its candidate, Mzwandile Simon Biko was elected as the councillor for Ward 01 in the Saldanha Local Municipality. 

The party won a seat previously held by the ANC in the 2021 local government elections.

According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), the voter turnout was 55.30%.

Last week the MK Party won a ward from the ANC in Richmond Local Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. That victory came after similar inroads in Umzumbe in the south of the province and one in Rustenburg where it snatched wards from the ANC. 

After the Saldanha victory, the MK Party’s Secretary-General, Floyd Shivambu said their members on the ground should not lose focus.

“The MK affirmed its presence in Saldanha Bay Municipality and the next By-Elections we will win decisively are on the 2nd of April 2025 and we will be welcoming new Councillors of the MK. Ground Forces must remain disciplined, respectful, humble and focused,” Shivambu posted on X.

Meanwhile, despite the setback in Saldanha, the ANC was able to retain Ward 59 in the City of Johannesburg Municipality in Gauteng where Sthembiso Fortune Hlatshwayo emerged victorious. It was also able to retain Ward 01 in the Joe Morolong Municipality in the Northern Cape where Pako Matthews Bareki was elected as the new councillor.