- KZN ANC leader Mike Mabuyakhulu called on artists to help the party “reclaim lost municipalities.”
- This forms part of a broader renewal and recovery drive in KZN after the ANC’s significant losses in the 2024 national and provincial elections (where it dropped sharply in the province, partly due to the rise of uMkhonto weSizwe Party/MKP).
- The party sees the creative sector (music, performing arts, etc.) as influential for mobilizing voters, especially in a culturally vibrant province like KZN with a strong tradition of using arts in political messaging.
Context
The ANC in KZN has been in “renewal mode” — reconstituting provincial leadership, auditing branches, and focusing on ward-based strategies ahead of the local elections. Mobilizing artists is a classic tactic for the party (and others) to leverage entertainment, cultural resonance, and celebrity influence to boost turnout and appeal, particularly among younger or urban voters.
This comes amid intense competition in KZN from parties like the MK Party, IFP, and others. The province remains a key battleground.
