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IFP says it made gains despite lower national vote share

Published

Ongoing: Elections Hot

With about 74% of the national vote counted, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) stands at about 4.6% of the national proportional representation vote. That is below the 5.64% it won in 2021.

IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the party had held its own in a mixed set of results. He said the party kept stability and was on course to keep governing key areas.

The IFP said it grew and won seats outside its traditional base. Hlengwa said the party faces growing competition from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party in KwaZulu-Natal.

Key facts

Who
Mkhuleko Hlengwa (IFP national spokesperson); Inkatha Freedom Party (political party); uMkhonto weSizwe Party (political party, competing with the IFP in KwaZulu-Natal); Sifiso Sonjica (provincial spokesperson of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal)
What
With about 74% of the national vote counted, the Inkatha Freedom Party is at around 4.6% of the national proportional representation vote, compared with 5.64% in 2021. IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the party had held its own and made gains, while facing growing competition from the MK Party in KwaZulu-Natal.
When
6 November 2026
Where
KwaZulu-Natal, Greater Kokstad Municipality, eThekwini
Status
Reported

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With about 74% of the national vote counted, the IFP stands at about 4.6%, below the 5.64% it won in 2021, though it says it made gains. Earlier partial results had the ANC leading nationally with 31%, the DA on 25% and the MK Party third, with the EFF fourth.

The DA leads in 19 of 25 Western Cape municipalities but has passed 51% in only seven, while the ANC has won none of the 21 councils reported there. The ANC, DA, EFF and ActionSA say they are open to coalition talks as results point to hung councils.

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