The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has welcomed the National Freedom Party’s (NFP) decision to withdraw from the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) in KwaZulu-Natal, calling it a necessary break from what it terms an “illegitimate and undemocratic” arrangement.
In a media statement issued on 9 January 2026, the MK Party described the NFP’s withdrawal as a “principled and courageous” decision that respects the will of the electorate. The party claims the GPU lacked legitimacy because it sidelined the MK Party, which emerged as the largest party in the 2024 provincial elections.
What the MK Party says happened
The statement argues that the NFP’s resignation from the KwaZulu-Natal provincial cabinet marks the beginning of the end for what the MK Party calls the “so-called GPU” — a coalition it claims was never based on unity but on exclusion and backroom political deals.
“The NFP has affirmed that governance cannot be built on political expediency, backroom deals or the distortion of electoral outcomes,” the MK Party said.
According to the party, voters gave the MK Party a clear mandate to lead the province. It says that any arrangement that excludes the party with the largest electoral support is “neither rooted in principle nor reflective of the democratic will of the people.”
Political implications for KwaZulu-Natal
The MK Party believes the NFP’s move signals a shift toward what it calls “people-centred leadership” and opens the way for progressive forces to form a new government. It praised the NFP for rejecting “sugar-coated politics of exclusion” and called on other parties to join in building a government aligned with the electorate’s aspirations.
The statement also positions the KwaZulu-Natal situation as a national example, suggesting that the current alignment of the MK Party, EFF, and now NFP could offer a blueprint for broader political cooperation rooted in shared goals such as land justice, economic emancipation, and social equality.
What happens next
The MK Party says it is prepared to lead KwaZulu-Natal in line with the 2024 election results and will continue engaging other progressive organisations to form a new government.
“We remain ready, capable and prepared to lead KwaZulu-Natal in accordance with the mandate bestowed upon us by the people,” the party said.
The MK Party reiterated that any future government must reflect the majority’s will and avoid arrangements that protect minority capital and foreign interests over national sovereignty.
Key facts
- The NFP has officially exited the KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity.
- MK Party calls the GPU an “artificial construct” created after the 2024 elections.
- MK says the move clears the way for a new government based on the election mandate.
- The party calls on other progressive parties to align on land justice and economic transformation.
