14 DAYS TO FIX LOCAL: Herman Mashaba: ‘Very, very slim’ chance of coalitions with the DA

With a mere 14 days remaining until the deadline for forming coalition agreements in 139 councils across South Africa, local politics is in a flurry of activity. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has warned that the chances of coalitions with the DA (Democratic Alliance) are "very, very slim," indicating a potential alliance with the ANC and other smaller parties. The two political parties have a contentious history, dating back to 2019 when Mashaba left the DA following a panel report that ousted its leader, Mmusi Maimane.

ActionSA's main priority is retaining Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya, whose popularity helped the party secure a 22.7% share of the vote in the capital city. The DA, meanwhile, received the highest vote share of 34.4%, while the ANC holds 20.27% and ActionSA follows with 16.29%. The political landscape is further complicated by the fact that the DA needs to decide whether to trade Tshwane for Johannesburg, where Helen Zille, the DA's mayoral candidate, leads with 34.81% of the vote.

The 2026 local government elections have left most South African councils without a clear governing majority, leaving political parties scrambling to negotiate coalition governments within the limited 14-day window. ActionSA's Michael Beaumont will spearhead the coalition talks, emphasizing the importance of stable, majority-based governments and the need for written agreements to avoid undermining the democratic process.