By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has named Bongani Baloyi as its City of Johannesburg mayoral candidate, alongside five others unveiled to contest key metros in the 2026.
The candidates were announced on Friday, 28 August 2026 following a two-day meeting of party’s officials.
Baloyi has previously served as Midvaal’s mayor, where he has steered Midvaal to greater heights. It has climbed up to the sixth top-performing municipality from 16th in 2013.
In Ekurhuleni, the party named Thulani Shongwe, a member of the National Assembly who gained national prominence through his contributions to the ad hoc committee investigating allegations of criminal infiltration in the justice system.
In eThekwini, the party named the relatively unknown Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi as its mayoral candidate, she will be up against Hanniff Hoosen from the DA, Zwakele Mncwango from ActionSA and Thabani Nyawose from the ANC.
In Mangaung, the party named Mapaseka Mothibi as its candidate, while in Buffalo City in the Eastern Cape, the face of the party is Mzwandile Vaaiboom.
In the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, also in the Eastern Cape, it named Mvuleni Map as its candidate.
The party Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo said all the candidates have good track records and are capable to serve in these positions.
Nomvalo said the endorsement of the candidates marked an important step towards consolidating the party’s electoral campaign and providing voters with clear leadership choices ahead of the 4 November Local Government Elections.
He said they are not ready yet to announce the mayoral candidates for Cape Town and Tshwane.
“As the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, we will organise. We will mobilise. We will listen to our people. We will take the People’s Mandate to the masses. No one must be left behind,” he added.
He also commended Lucky Montana, Dr Mthanti Mthanti for their collective and their work in developing and preparing the People’s Mandate.
The document is due to be formally released on September 4, said Nomvalo.
Nomvalo said the party had registered more than 300,000 new members since June, which he said demonstrated growing confidence and support for the organisation.