Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie doubles down on the abahambe campaign ahead of the November 2026 municipal elections. Image: itumeleng/Supplied
The Patriotic Alliance has revived its abahambe campaign ahead of the November 2026 municipal elections, with leader Gayton McKenzie doubling down on the party’s anti-immigration platform. The Patriotic Alliance abahambe message has returned to the campaign trail as South Africa prepares to head to the polls on 4 November 2026. However, the revival has drawn mixed reactions, with some voters questioning whether the chant is driven by genuine conviction or electoral timing.
The word abahambe comes from isiZulu and isiXhosa and means “let them go” or “they must leave.” McKenzie made the slogan a defining feature of the Patriotic Alliance’s rise before the 2024 general elections, calling for the deportation of undocumented migrants. He argued that undocumented foreign nationals place pressure on jobs, housing, and healthcare in South Africa.
After the 2024 elections, McKenzie joined the Government of National Unity as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture. It was at that point that his public use of the abahambe chant dropped off sharply. In January 2026, McKenzie acknowledged the change, saying: “I can no longer casually utter abahambe. I am now a minister.” He added that immigration falls under Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber’s portfolio and that publicly commenting on it would undermine his colleagues and violate the principle of collective responsibility.
Voters Question McKenzie’s Consistency on Abahambe
The explanation did not sit well with everyone. Some South Africans pushed back online, with critics pointing out that his ministerial role does not strip him of his party position. One commenter wrote: “The ministerial position does not take away your party position.” Others questioned the timing of the revival, suggesting that McKenzie only reverts to the abahambe message when votes are at stake. “He changed his tune when he got his seat,” a view expressed widely on social media, reflects a sentiment shared by a number of former supporters.
Others, however, defended McKenzie’s approach. Some argued that working from inside government produces more concrete results than campaigning from the outside, and that raising immigration concerns through Cabinet is a more effective route than public sloganeering. Supporters noted that the Patriotic Alliance has remained consistent in its policy position even if the public rhetoric softened while McKenzie served as minister.
The Patriotic Alliance has confirmed it will contest every ward in the country in November 2026, with immigration among its core campaign messages. Research by the Human Sciences Research Council shows that South Africans have become increasingly hostile toward migrants over the past five years, a trend multiple political parties are seeking to capitalise on ahead of the polls.
Anti-immigration groups including March and March and Operation Dudula staged protests from March through June 2026. An unofficial deadline for foreign nationals to leave the country by 30 June gained traction after a false Department of Home Affairs notice spread online. The HSRC has warned that the risk of xenophobic mobilisation and even violence during the 2026 elections remains a real concern.
Read also: Malema Calls to Document Foreigners Amid Ekurhuleni Killings