Boot Ramaphosa, mayorships, and ‘no racists’: What parties are saying ahead of coalition talks
A number of parties, including the DA, have confirmed that preliminary coalition discussions have already begun.
Political parties in South Africa are entering the new week with talks focused on forming coalitions for the upcoming municipal governments. The 2026 Local Government Elections have left many metropolitan areas without a clear winner, resulting in hung councils where no single party holds a majority. Parties need to form alliances to govern effectively.
The African National Congress (ANC), currently the largest party with around 30.7% of the votes, is open to coalition talks but has dismissed speculation of a partnership with the Democratic Alliance (DA). ANC officials emphasized the importance of stability and adherence to the party's manifesto, stating they are not "desperate" for a coalition. The ANC Youth League supports coalitions with parties that respect black people and those previously disadvantaged, rejecting racist or extreme right-wing groups.
The DA has announced it will initiate coalition discussions with parties committed to clean governance, service delivery, the rule of law, and non-racialism. The party leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, stated that the DA will approach negotiations with humility and respect for the mandates other parties received from voters. The DA may push for control of mayoral offices in coalition governments.
The MK party, the country's third-largest party, is willing to work with ideologically aligned parties and will only negotiate with those prepared to do the same. They are focused on addressing the land question and maintaining their mandate from the people.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
