Nkandla IFP wins majority: 14 of 27 seats after 2026 vote
Provisional IEC tallies give the IFP 14 of 27 seats on the Nkandla council, a narrow majority after all wards were declared. MK is second on 9 seats, ANC on 3, DA on 1.
Provisional IEC figures now show the Inkatha Freedom Party with a majority on the Nkandla local council: 14 of 27 seats, after seats were declared for the King Cetshwayo district municipality in KwaZulu-Natal (The Outlier, update 15:35 Africa/Johannesburg on 6 November 2026; ESP Nkandla results from IEC data).
In 2021 the IFP already held a majority, with 16 of 27 seats, ahead of the ANC on 10 and the EFF on 1 (Inkmark 2021 seat summary; The Vote Nkandla guide). This count keeps the IFP above the 14 seats needed to govern alone, though two seats tighter than last time. Treat seats as provisional until the IEC formally declares the council.
What is the Nkandla seat split?
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) | 14 |
| uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) | 9 |
| African National Congress (ANC) | 3 |
| Democratic Alliance (DA) | 1 |
| Total | 27 |
| Seats needed for a majority | 14 |
Source: The Outlier Nkandla card (IEC data). ESP breaks that into 11 ward seats and 3 PR seats for the IFP, with MK on 3 ward and 6 PR, the ANC on 3 PR and the DA on 1 PR. Rateweb shows the same IFP majority once counting reached 100%.
How did the wards and votes fall?
On ESP's reading of IEC ward results, the IFP won 11 of 14 wards, with MK taking wards 5, 8 and 12. On the ward ballot the IFP took about 50.2% of valid votes (16 833), down about 5.6 percentage points from 55.8% in 2021. MK was second on about 32.5% (10 920), and the ANC third on about 11.7% (3 912). All 96 voting districts in Nkandla are in, with turnout around 50.9% on ESP's PR-based figure.
How does this fit KwaZulu-Natal?
Nkandla is another outright IFP win in a province where MK leads the overall vote share and many councils are hung. Reported has already covered the IFP majority in Mthonjaneni (Melmoth), 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 Nkandla 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 Nkandla?
On provisional IEC-based tallies with seats declared, yes. The Outlier and ESP show the IFP on 14 of 27 seats, which is the exact number needed for a majority.
How many seats does MK have in Nkandla?
The MK Party has 9 seats on the provisional Outlier and ESP seat tallies: 3 ward seats and 6 proportional-representation seats.
When must Nkandla 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.