eThekwini mayoral race heats up as parties unveil big-name candidates

The emergence of the MK Party during the 2024 general elections has also upped the ante for the upcoming municipal polls.

Several parties have put forward who they believe are their best candidates.

The DA got an early start, selecting former MP Haniff Hoosen as its eThekwini mayoral candidate almost a year ago.

Action SA has named its KZN chairperson, Zwakele Mncwango, as its hopeful, while the EFF has tapped its founding deputy secretary-general and MP, Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi, as its woman for the job.

The ANC has taken a different approach. The party has presented five possible candidates while it decides who will eventually go in to bat for the organisation in eThekwini.

The shortlist includes current Mayor Cyril Xaba, current Speaker Thabani Nyawose, former KZN premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, former MP Mina Soma-Lesoma and ANC veteran Maggie Govender.

Last week, the MK Party revealed Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi as its mayoral candidate.