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ANC puts national leaders in charge of coalition talks

Published

Ongoing: Elections Hot

The ANC's top officials have told national executive committee members to lead coalition talks with provincial structures, not regional ones, ahead of the 4 November local government elections, sources said. An NEC member said talks are off the table for now.

The ANC will not let regional structures lead coalition negotiations, as happened in the past, sources said. The new approach follows a framework document drawn up after the 2024 national elections.

Polls and surveys suggest no party will win an overwhelming majority in eight metros. An NEC member said the party has not officially started talking about coalitions.

An ANC source said the Gauteng leadership leans towards keeping the current set-up, with minority parties including the EFF but not the DA. The source said the party prefers to keep its current partners in Johannesburg and Tshwane because those arrangements work well. Sources in the ANC and the DA said the DA wants to work with the ANC for stability in all three spheres of government.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the mayoral issue rests with the national officials, not the region. He said the region has submitted names and the process uses a shortlist.

Key facts

Who
Fikile Mbalula (ANC secretary-general); African National Congress (governing party seeking to win the 4 November local government elections); Democratic Alliance (opposition party discussed as a possible coalition partner); Economic Freedom Fighters (minority party in Gauteng coalition arrangements)
When
24 October 2026
Where
South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg
Status
Reported

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