FF Plus rules out EFF, MK Party and PAC coalitions after local elections

Freedom Front Plus leader Dr Corné Mulder announced on November 4 that his party would not form coalitions with the EFF, MK Party, or PAC following the local government elections scheduled for the same day. Mulder stated that these parties did not share the same values and principles as the Freedom Front Plus, rendering coalition governments with them improbable.

He emphasized that coalition governments were likely to become the norm in municipalities post-election. However, the Freedom Front Plus would only consider partnering with parties that align with its values and that would act in the interest of communities. Mulder spoke to the SABC in Pretoria after the party released its 2026 local government election manifesto, which outlines a 10-point plan prioritizing service delivery, accountability, and addressing municipal administration issues.

With over 500 political parties contesting the elections, Mulder suggested that voters focus on the larger parties when considering coalition arrangements. He specifically mentioned that Johannesburg would be particularly fragmented, with approximately 80 parties vying for seats. Mulder stated that the Freedom Front Plus aimed to form coalitions with fewer parties to enhance stability.

He reiterated that the party would consider working with parties whose values aligned with its own but would not enter into partnerships with parties it fundamentally disagreed with, specifically naming the EFF, MK Party, and PAC as parties it would not want to work with. Mulder acknowledged that parties could agree on specific issues like service delivery while still having differing political positions, but he urged voters to consider the broader values and principles of the parties they support.

He believed that many South Africans supported traditional conservative values, including property rights and opposition to expropriation without compensation, which are also central to the party's economic approach and its call for policies promoting economic growth. Mulder highlighted that the Freedom Front Plus is expanding its reach, participating in every council and ward in five of South Africa's nine provinces, including the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga.

In the remaining provinces, the party contests between 75% and 80% of municipalities. He also noted that the party has garnered support from various communities at its manifesto launch, driven by the values and alternatives it offers. Mulder emphasized that the Freedom Front Plus is prioritizing municipal service delivery and criticizing municipalities where a significant portion of the budget is spent on salaries rather than services and infrastructure.

He called for fewer managers and more skilled employees to maintain essential infrastructure. Mulder criticized South Africa's weak economic growth and high unemployment, stating that the party believes South Africans should be prioritized for employment while rejecting vigilante actions against undocumented migrants.