The MK Party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, has delayed the announcement of its metro mayoral candidates as the party intensifies preparations for the November 4 elections and calls for a decisive victory.
Image: Itumeleng English / ANA Studio
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has postponed its planned unveiling of mayoral candidates for metropolitan municipalities after the party said one of its candidates survived what appeared to be a planned hijacking.
The party was due to hold a media briefing in eThekwini on Friday afternoon to formally announce the candidates ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
In a statement, the MK Party said the briefing had been moved from 2 pm to 4 pm, with the venue remaining unchanged.
“One of our mayoral candidates has survived what looks like a planned hijacking attack on the way to the press briefing scheduled for this afternoon,” the party said.
The party did not name the candidate or provide further details about the alleged incident.
It said the incident would not deter it from contesting the elections.
“We will not retreat. We will meet on 4 November,” the party said.
In a post on X, spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu said the briefing would formally introduce the party’s metro mayoral candidates, who would contest the upcoming elections.
He said the party had undertaken work on its policies and what it described as its "people’s mandate" ahead of the elections.
“The party is excited to release these names because much work has been put into the advancement of policy, the build-up of our people's mandate, and our delivery towards the people of South Africa,” Mahlangu said.
The candidates would be expected to work towards securing a decisive victory for the party on November 4.
Mahlangu called on the party’s mayoral and councillor candidates to campaign around radical economic transformation and what he described as the party’s commitment to improving service delivery.
“We call upon all our mayoral candidates, all our councilor candidates, to work very hard in a steadfast way to prove radical economic transformation, to work ahead with the people's mandate, to prove that South Africa can be better under the leadership, the guidance, and the service delivery provided by MK Party,” Mahlangu said.
The party also separately announced that its president, former president Jacob Zuma, and national leaders would address the nation on the outcomes of the National Officials Meeting and recent developments within the party.
**IOL Politics **
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now
