Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
15 October 2026 | 12:46 CAT
2-minute read

Immigration has become a powerful political flashpoint in the lead up to South Africa’s local government elections. In KwaZulu-Natal, the March and March movement has attracted support from political parties including ActionSA, the MK Party and the IFP, raising questions about whether public frustration is being channelled into electoral support for deepening anti-migrant sentiment.

Political analyst Dr Dale McKinley contends that anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa is being actively weaponised for political and electoral purposes. Speaking to Radio Islam International, Dr McKinley said the MK Party in particular is closely affiliated to the March and March movement.

“uMkhonto we Sizwe is the dominant force, politically, that is supporting March and March and that is connected with them, noting that MK’s lawyer is Jacinta’s husband, and so it’s a bit of a family affair as well,” he said.

The MK Party’s backing of the movement appears to highlight its reliance on populist politics to mobilise voter support.

Dr McKinley drew parallels between the recent upheaval in KZN and that of July 2021, showing that the strategy in both instances is to use the threat of violence to intimidate people into falling in line.

But will violent eruptions translate into votes at the ballot box?

Dr McKinley explains that because political parties are exploiting public anger and frustration, it could drive votes toward parties promising to prioritise immigration.

“They’re…tapping into a lot of frustration and anger… People are angry and frustrated over the lack of service delivery, the lack of jobs… And some people will be affected to vote for a political party that is promising them that they’ll…deal with foreigners and that this will make life better for South Africans,” Dr McKinley said.

Constituencies in KZN are likely to see an increase in votes for parties that prioritise immigration, driven largely by its intersection with regional ethnic politics. Dr McKinley explains that the dominant political force behind this movement has long sought to control the province by leveraging ethnic mobilisation.

In Gauteng and other urban hubs, this sentiment may instead translate into increased support for the Patriotic Alliance and ActionSA.

“I don’t think it’ll fundamentally change the nature of the elections, but certainly it’s useful for them, politically,” Dr McKinley said.

So, what can be done to counter this?

Analysts highlight the importance of spreading verified information and countering misinformation to mitigate the risk of emotional manipulation.

During the interview, Dr McKinley explained the way public engagement with these movements is intensely emotional rather than analytical, which is particularly evident in the support base surrounding former President Jacob Zuma and the MK Party.

For many voters, Dr McKinley explained, critiques of the party’s leadership are internalised as personal attacks, heavily influenced by historical grievances and the ongoing factional battles of the ANC playing out in the MK Party.

While civil society and analysts continuously work to counter political misinformation, pushing back against these narratives is difficult. The strategy effectively targets citizens who feel entirely abandoned by the ruling establishment, driving them to support alternative factions they believe will provide immediate, tangible benefits.

Analysts emphasise that this shift toward divisive, exclusionary rhetoric is not unique to South Africa. Globally, anti-migrant and xenophobic politics have been highly effectively weaponised as a populist tool. When ordinary citizens face socioeconomic hardship, their financial realities make them receptive to populist promises, Dr McKinley concluded.

Listen to the full interview with Dr Dale McKinley on Sabaahul Muslim, presented by Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.