Key Takeaways
- The uMkhonto weSizwe Party cancelled its planned Siyathatha rally for 18 October and will shift focus to grassroots ward‑level campaigning ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
- The party’s 2026 election manifesto will be distributed electronically to structures and members on Thursday, rather than being unveiled at a large public launch.
- Reports of financial strain—unpaid service providers and concerns about the party’s reputation for timely payments—prompted doubts about the feasibility of the originally envisaged manifesto event.
- Insiders quoted in the Sunday Times expressed skepticism that the party could afford the scale of launch it had hoped for, suggesting a much smaller affair might be necessary.
- Despite the cancellation, the party announced the national Molo Makhelwane door‑to‑door campaign, running until 3 November, aimed at engaging households, churches, and community leaders across diverse settings.
- The statement acknowledged discrepancies in the final councillor candidate list released by the Electoral Commission of South Africa and pledged an independent investigation, with findings to be submitted to the Presidency.
- Affected candidates who were legitimately nominated through community meetings will be engaged directly, and any omitted names will be prioritized for the first available proportional‑representation seats, subject to party processes.
- Deployment committees will be established at national, provincial, and regional levels to finalize the placement of proportional‑representation councillors.
- The party urged members to stay united and disciplined as election preparations intensify, emphasizing that the streets must now be “green” through active community presence.
Background on Rally Cancellation
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party announced on Tuesday that it would not proceed with the Siyathatha rally originally set for Sunday, 18 October. Instead, the organization will concentrate its energy and resources on ward‑level campaigning in preparation for the 2026 local government elections. The decision marks a strategic pivot from a large, centralized event to a more dispersed, community‑focused approach aimed at maximizing direct voter contact at the grassroots level.
Manifesto Distribution Plan
In the same statement, the party revealed that its 2026 local government election manifesto would be disseminated electronically to all party structures and members on Thursday. This shift from a physical launch to an online distribution reflects the party’s attempt to ensure that its policy platform reaches supporters despite the cancellation of the rally. The electronic format also allows for broader dissemination across urban and rural areas where internet access is available.
Financial Difficulties Context
The announcement follows weeks of speculation about the party’s fiscal health. The Sunday Times reported that uMkhonto weSizwe was experiencing financial difficulties that threatened its ability to fund a major manifesto launch. Insiders highlighted concerns over unpaid service providers and a growing perception among businesses that the party does not honor its payment obligations promptly. These financial pressures have cast doubt on the feasibility of staging the large‑scale event the party had initially envisioned.
Insider Perspectives on Funding
One party insider told the Sunday Times, “We wanted the manifesto launch here in eThekwini, but now there is a perception that we do not pay people. If businesses do not want to work with us, how are we going to pull off the kind of launch we wanted?” Another source echoed this sentiment, stating, “I doubt we will have the manifesto launch we originally planned. We do not have the money,” and suggested that any event would likely need to be considerably smaller than originally planned. These candid remarks underscore the internal recognition of budgetary constraints.
Rationale Behind the Decision
Although the party’s latest statement did not explicitly attribute the rally cancellation to its financial situation, it explained that the move was taken to allow the organization to focus its resources and efforts on community engagement and ward‑level campaign activities. By redirecting funds and volunteer energy toward direct voter interaction, the party aims to build a stronger grassroots presence that could translate into electoral support, even without a high‑profile manifesto launch.
Launch of the Molo Makhelwane Campaign
To compensate for the absence of a large rally, the party introduced the national Molo Makhelwane campaign, which will run until midnight on 3 November—the day before the elections. The initiative requires party structures, councillor candidates, and volunteers to visit households, engage with churches, and listen to residents’ concerns across cities, townships, farms, and villages. The rallying cry, “The streets must now be green!” encourages members to intensify their visibility and active participation in local communities, turning everyday interactions into opportunities for persuasion and mobilization.
Candidate List Discrepancies and Investigation
The statement also acknowledged that discrepancies had been identified in the final councillor candidate list published by the Electoral Commission of South Africa. In response, the party pledged to conduct an urgent, independent investigation into the matter, with the findings to be submitted to the Presidency for consideration. The investigation aims to clarify how certain names were omitted or inadvertently excluded and to determine appropriate remedial actions.
Remedial Measures for Affected Candidates
For candidates who were legitimately nominated through community meetings but whose names were missing from the official list, the party said it would engage them directly. Those whose nominations were omitted or excluded will be prioritized for the first available proportional‑representation positions, subject to the party’s internal processes and requirements. This approach seeks to rectify procedural oversights while maintaining fairness and transparency in candidate deployment.
Deployment Committees and Unity Call
To streamline the placement of proportional‑representation councillors, the party resolved to establish deployment committees at the national, provincial, and regional levels. These bodies will be responsible for finalizing candidate allocations and ensuring that the deployment aligns with both party strategy and electoral regulations. The statement concluded with a plea for members to remain united and disciplined as election preparations intensify, emphasizing that collective effort is essential to achieving the party’s goals in the upcoming local government polls.