The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has officially announced Nkele Annie Matime as its mayoral candidate for the City of Tshwane for the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections.

The announcement was made via the party’s official social media channels on 12 September 2026, filling one of the two metropolitan slots left vacant during the party’s candidate unveiling in Durban a fortnight earlier.

Matime’s Professional And Academic Profile

Matime is a former City of Tshwane official with over 20 years of experience in the public sector and community development. She previously served as Deputy Director for Policy Formulation and Implementation and worked within the municipality’s Local Economic Development division.

The MK Party statement described Matime as an accomplished professional with an MBA and honours qualifications in geography and theology. “This combination of professional expertise, leadership and community commitment positions her as a capable and experienced choice to lead Tshwane under the banner of the MK Party,” the party said.

Matime enters a competitive race against ActionSA’s Nasiphi Moya, the current mayor, and the Democratic Alliance’s Cilliers Brink, who was ousted from the mayoral position in September 2024. The 2026 polls on 4 November will be the first municipal elections contested by the MK Party since its formation in 2023.

Internal Party Turmoil Precedes Announcement

The Tshwane announcement comes days after party leader Jacob Zuma axed the eThekwini mayoral candidate, Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi, and replaced her with Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi. Zuma simultaneously dissolved the party’s Presidential Task Team and ordered an investigation into allegations that duly nominated councillor candidates were replaced on the final lists submitted to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).

MK Party spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu confirmed the investigation, stating that the party needed to “establish the full facts”. However, the IEC closed councillor-candidate nominations on 28 August 2026 at 5pm, meaning the party cannot legally alter the names already submitted. The City of Cape Town remains the only metropolitan municipality where the MK Party has yet to announce a mayoral candidate.