Johannesburg – ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba and Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Geordin Hill-Lewis have held what Mashaba described as a “frank and productive” meeting as coalition negotiations continue following the 2026 Local Government Elections.
According to IOL, the meeting formed part of ongoing efforts by the two parties to find common ground on coalition arrangements in Gauteng’s three major metros – Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.
ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont also described the engagement as “another productive coalition discussion”, signalling that talks between the parties remain open despite disagreements over key positions.
Mashaba has proposed a power-sharing arrangement under which the DA would take control of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, while ActionSA would retain the Tshwane mayoralty under Nasiphi Moya.
LGE 2026 | ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont says the meeting between party’s leader Herman Mashaba and DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis was productive, as coalition talks continue. He says ActionSA is likely to work with the DA in Nelson Mandela Bay. https://t.co/gUP4F8WH8P
— SABC News (@SABCNews) November 12, 2026
However, as reported by TimesLIVE and Eyewitness News (EWN), Mashaba has made his support for a coalition conditional on former DA leader Helen Zille not being considered for the Johannesburg mayoralty.
Mashaba has offered to withdraw his own mayoral ambitions if Zille also steps aside and allows the DA to nominate another candidate.
“I explained to Geordin that ActionSA would really like to work with the Democratic Alliance,” Mashaba said, according to Newsday.
“However, the toxicity between Helen and me has reached a stage where I can’t work in an environment where I feel someone wants to stab me in the back or destroy me.”
Zille has rejected Mashaba’s demand, describing it as “preposterous” and arguing that the DA’s electoral performance should be respected, Newsday reported.
As part of ActionSA’s engagements with other political parties, I just had a frank and productive meeting with DA Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis. https://t.co/9Mjmyu1Xhn
— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) November 12, 2026
The latest engagement nevertheless represents an attempt to move beyond the tensions that have characterised relations between ActionSA and the DA, particularly over Mashaba’s criticism of elements within the DA.
The need for coalition agreements follows an election outcome in which the DA emerged as the largest party in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni but failed to secure outright majorities.
Reuters reported that the election has resulted in coalition negotiations across a significantly larger number of municipalities than after the 2021 local elections.
Political analyst Wayne Sussman has warned that disagreements over leadership and key positions could complicate coalition-building. Speaking to EWN, Sussman said a DA-ANC arrangement could provide a simpler route to stability in some councils.
For now, no formal DA-ActionSA coalition agreement has been announced, but the Mashaba-Hill-Lewis meeting suggests negotiations remain active as political parties race to establish administrations in Gauteng’s hung metros.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
