The ANC faces difficult coalition negotiations following its poor performance in South Africa’s 2026 local government elections, while ActionSA is pushing back against Helen Zille becoming Johannesburg’s next mayor.
The election results have left several major municipalities without outright majorities, forcing political parties to negotiate agreements to form governments.
According to News24 and Daily Maverick, the ANC is even prepared to sit in opposition rather than enter coalition agreements that do not meet its conditions.
ANC loses ground in major cities
The ANC suffered significant losses in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, where the Democratic Alliance (DA) emerged as the leading party.
By Saturday evening, with 99% of votes counted, the ANC had secured 30.88% of valid votes nationally.
In Johannesburg, the party received 20.25% of the vote, while securing 20.29% in Tshwane and 21.9% in Ekurhuleni.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula described the party’s performance as “catastrophic”, acknowledging the scale of its electoral losses.
However, he maintained that the ANC would not rush into coalition agreements or compromise on service delivery.
ActionSA challenges Helen Zille’s mayoral bid
Meanwhile, ActionSA has raised objections to DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille taking control of Johannesburg.
According to News24, ActionSA wants Zille removed from the mayoral race as coalition negotiations intensify.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba and national chairperson Michael Beaumont have indicated that the party remains open to negotiating with different political parties.
However, Beaumont has expressed concerns about Zille’s involvement in previous Johannesburg coalitions.
The disagreement could complicate negotiations between the DA and ActionSA, despite both parties emerging as important players in Gauteng’s municipal politics.
Coalition talks under pressure
The DA has proposed a government of local unity model, which would bring multiple parties together to secure broader council support.
Meanwhile, the EFF has suggested cooperation between the ANC, MK party, EFF and SACP.
The ANC’s leadership is expected to hold further discussions before its National Executive Committee meeting on 12 November.
Political parties face a tight deadline, with newly elected municipal councils required to hold their first meetings within 14 days of the official election results being declared.
For residents, the outcome will determine who leads their municipalities and which parties become responsible for services such as water, electricity and infrastructure.
With negotiations still developing, control of several major cities remains undecided.
I’m a writer, editor and software developer at Newsroom ZA.
I build things, break them (on purpose), then turn the chaos into clean, readable stories. You’ll usually find me bouncing between breaking news, politics and entertainment.