Mthonjaneni IFP wins majority: 15 of 25 seats after Melmoth vote
Provisional IEC tallies give the IFP 15 of 25 seats on the Mthonjaneni (Melmoth) council, a clear majority after all wards were declared. MK is second on 6 seats, ANC on 3.
Provisional IEC figures now show the Inkatha Freedom Party with a majority on the Mthonjaneni local council: 15 of 25 seats, after seats were declared for the Melmoth-centred municipality in KwaZulu-Natal (The Outlier, update 14:55 Africa/Johannesburg on 6 November 2026; ESP Mthonjaneni results from IEC data).
In 2021 the council was hung, with the IFP on 12 seats and the ANC on 10, one short of the 13 needed to govern alone (Inkmark 2021 seat summary). This count clears that bar. Treat seats as provisional until the IEC formally declares the council.
What is the Mthonjaneni seat split?
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) | 15 |
| uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) | 6 |
| African National Congress (ANC) | 3 |
| Umkhumbi Wesizwe Organisation (UWO) | 1 |
| Total | 25 |
| Seats needed for a majority | 13 |
Source: The Outlier Mthonjaneni card (IEC data). ESP breaks that into 13 ward seats and 2 PR seats for the IFP, with MK on 6 PR, the ANC on 3 PR and UWO on 1 PR.
How did the wards and votes fall?
On ESP's reading of IEC ward results, the IFP won all 13 wards. On the ward ballot the IFP took about 58.3% of valid votes (14 254), up about 11.8 percentage points from 46.5% in 2021. MK was second on about 23.5% (5 754), and the ANC third on about 11.5% (2 805). All 83 voting districts in Mthonjaneni are in.
Rateweb shows the same IFP lead, with IFP around 58.3% and MK around 23.8% while counting was near complete.
How does this fit KwaZulu-Natal?
Mthonjaneni (Melmoth and surrounds, in the King Cetshwayo district) is an outright IFP win in a province where MK leads the overall count and many councils are hung. Reported has already covered MK majorities in Richmond, iMpendle and Johannes Phumani Pungula, the DA majority in uMngeni (Howick), and hung towns such as KwaDukuza, Mandeni, eShowe and Scottburgh.
Nationally, seats are still being declared. Follow the IEC results dashboard for the official status of each council.
When must Mthonjaneni elect a mayor?
Once the IEC declares the result, the new council must hold its first meeting within 14 calendar days and elect a speaker and mayor (Municipal Structures Act; see also Reported's hung-council mayor timeline). With an outright majority, the IFP can elect those office-bearers without a coalition partner, unless it chooses one.
Figures above are provisional IEC-based tallies from Outlier, ESP and Rateweb. They can still change if wards are recounted or objections succeed before the IEC's final declaration.
FAQ
Did the IFP win a majority in Mthonjaneni?
On provisional IEC-based tallies with seats declared, yes. The Outlier and ESP show the IFP on 15 of 25 seats, above the 13 needed for a majority.
How many seats does MK have in Mthonjaneni?
The MK Party has 6 seats on the provisional Outlier and ESP seat tallies, all from the proportional-representation list.
When must Mthonjaneni elect a mayor?
After the IEC declares the council, the first meeting to elect a speaker and mayor must be held within 14 calendar days.