The ANC’s extended National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting has reportedly resolved that the Democratic Alliance (DA) should be a last resort in municipal coalition negotiations.
Image: Timothy Bernard/African News Agency (ANA)
The ANC’s extended National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting has reportedly resolved that the Democratic Alliance (DA) should be a last resort when negotiating coalition governments in municipalities.
This reportedly follows concerns among ANC members that the party’s partnership with the DA in the Government of National Unity (GNU) contributed to its declining electoral support.
The meeting comes after the ANC said it would not adopt a “blanket approach” to municipal coalition negotiations following its poor performance in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Municipality-by-municipality approach
ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bengu said each municipality would be assessed individually, taking into account its political dynamics, demographics, parties represented and residents’ needs.
Speaking at a doorstep briefing at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg on Thursday, Bengu said the party would not apply the same coalition formula everywhere.
“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,” she said.
ANC faces coalition challenge
The ANC’s share of the national vote fell from 45.59% in 2021 to 30.76% in 2026, although it remained the country’s largest party.
The DA secured 24.64%, followed by the MK Party on 9.76%, the EFF on 6.22% and ActionSA on 5.67%.
With 137 of the country’s 213 municipal councils hung, parties face negotiations to secure governing majorities.
The DA emerged as the leading party in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, but failed to secure outright majorities.