Eshowe is hung: IFP 24, MK 21 in uMlalazi's 55-seat council
uMlalazi (Eshowe, Mtunzini) has a hung council. The IFP won 24 of 55 seats, down from 30, and the MK Party 21. 28 are needed to govern, which puts the ANC's 6 seats in play.
uMlalazi, the KwaZulu-Natal municipality that includes Eshowe, Mtunzini and Gingindlovu, has a hung council. With all 155 voting districts counted, the IFP has 24 of the 55 seats and the MK Party 21. A party needs 28 to govern alone (ESP; The People's Register).
The IFP won 15 wards and the MK Party 13. On the ward ballot the IFP took 42.7% and the MK Party 37.9%, a gap of 2,923 votes (ESP).
Who won how many seats?
| Party | Ward seats | PR seats | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFP | 15 | 9 | 24 |
| MK Party | 13 | 8 | 21 |
| ANC | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| DA | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| EFF | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Ubuntu Abande Political Party | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Source: ESP, matching the IEC allocation on The People's Register (dated 8 November 2026 at 16:17 SAST) and Counted.
In 2021 the IFP won 30 of the 55 seats and ran the council alone. The ANC had 18 and the EFF 4 (Counted 2021). The MK Party did not exist then.
Turnout was 52.9% (ESP).
How did the ward vote split?
| Party | Ward votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| IFP | 26,422 | 42.7% |
| MK Party | 23,499 | 37.9% |
| ANC | 6,863 | 11.1% |
| DA | 1,785 | 2.9% |
| Ubuntu Abande Political Party | 907 | 1.5% |
| EFF | 703 | 1.1% |
Source: ESP, using IEC data. The IFP's ward share fell from 52.8% in 2021.
What would it take to reach 28 seats?
This is seat arithmetic, not a prediction. No coalition had been announced in the sources used here.
| Combination | Seats |
|---|---|
| IFP + ANC | 30 |
| IFP + DA + EFF + Ubuntu Abande | 28 |
| MK Party + ANC | 27 |
| MK Party + ANC + any one other party | 28 or more |
| Every party except the IFP together | 31 |
Source: seat totals from ESP.
The ANC's six seats matter most. With the IFP it has a majority. With the MK Party it falls one seat short, so that route would also need the DA, the EFF or Ubuntu Abande.
When will uMlalazi get a mayor?
The IEC planned to announce the final national results on Sunday, 8 November, at 18:00 (eNCA). After a council's result is declared, the Municipal Structures Act gives 14 days for the first council meeting, where councillors elect the speaker and the mayor (Municipal Structures Act).
The seat figures are the IEC's provisional allocation and can change until the result is formally declared. You can check them on the IEC results dashboard.
FAQ
Is uMlalazi a hung council after the 2026 election?
Yes. With all 155 voting districts counted, the IFP has 24 of 55 seats and the MK Party 21. A party needs 28 to govern alone. The figures are provisional until the IEC formally declares the result.
How many seats did each party win in uMlalazi?
IFP 24, MK Party 21, ANC 6, DA 2, and one each for the EFF and Ubuntu Abande Political Party.
Which parties could form a majority in uMlalazi?
IFP plus ANC gives 30 seats. IFP, DA, EFF and Ubuntu Abande make exactly 28. MK plus ANC gives 27, one short. No coalition had been announced in the sources used here.
When will uMlalazi elect a mayor?
After the result is declared, the first council meeting must be held within 14 days. Councillors elect the speaker and mayor at that meeting.