ANC reveals who it will approach for coalition deals

Cape Town – The ANC has resolved to engage all political parties, including smaller parties, civic movements and independent representatives, as it prepares to negotiate coalition agreements following its poor performance in South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections.

The decision was taken at the party’s Extended Special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Friday, with the ANC saying it would consider different coalition arrangements in municipalities where no party secured an outright majority.

In a statement, the ANC said the election results had created an unprecedented number of hung municipalities, placing responsibility on political parties to find workable governing arrangements.

The party said the situation had “imposed on all political parties a duty to reflect and determine the best and most stable coalitions to serve the people of South Africa”.

ANC STATEMENT ON MUNICIPAL COALITION ENGAGEMENTS.

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— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) November 13, 2026

The NEC has mandated its negotiating teams to engage with “all political parties, large and small, including civic movements and independents” in municipalities where no party has secured an outright majority.

“Engagements with various political parties are already under way, guided by the ANC’s coalition framework,” the party said.

The ANC added that coalition agreements would have to be based on a common minimum programme with measurable service delivery targets, emphasising the need for stable, transparent and accountable municipal government.

The latest developments follow the ANC’s decision to reject a one-size-fits-all approach to coalition negotiations.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bengu said each municipality would be assessed individually, taking into account its political dynamics, demographics, the parties represented and the needs of residents.

🔴BREAKING I ANC Rules Out DA as First Choice for Municipal Coalition Governments, NEC ResolvesBoksburg – 13 November 2026🔴

The African National Congress Extended National Executive Committee has resolved that the Democratic Alliance should be treated as a last resort when forming coalition governments in local municipalities. The decision was taken at a special meeting held on 12 November at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, following the ANC’s poor performance in the 2026 local government elections.

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— Central News (@centralnewsza) November 13, 2026

“There will not be a blanket approach until the NEC decides otherwise. Because matters that affect this one municipality are not the same as that other municipality,” Bengu said.

The ANC’s coalition strategy comes after it secured 30.76% of the national vote, down from 45.59% in the 2021 local government elections. The Democratic Alliance (DA) finished second with 24.64%, followed by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party with 9.76%.

Of South Africa’s 213 municipal councils, 137 are hung, meaning no political party has secured enough seats to govern independently.

The situation is particularly significant in Gauteng, where the DA emerged as the leading party in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni but failed to secure outright majorities.

Several possible coalition arrangements

Daily Maverick reported that the ANC was considering several possible coalition arrangements, including working with the DA, ActionSA, the EFF and smaller parties.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the party wanted negotiations to be guided by principles rather than political positions.

“It is important to talk to people and to negotiate with them in good faith, and at the same time we are looking for stable councils,” he told Daily Maverick.

The ANC said it would provide a further update on coalition negotiations on Tuesday, November 17, with no media engagements on the matter before then.