Ramaphosa urges parties for swift, cooperative council formation
Ramaphosa has called on leaders to turn local government into an engine of service delivery.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has implored all elected political parties to unite and swiftly form municipal councils following the announcement of the 2026 Local Government Elections results. During the announcement at the Results Operations Centre in Midrand, Ramaphosa emphasized that citizens' interests should not be overshadowed by political parties' attempts to settle petty disagreements.
He urged political parties to approach the formation of municipal governments with maturity, humility, and a genuine dedication to the public good.
Negotiations should not be contests over positions, privileges, or the distribution of power, Ramaphosa stressed. The President called upon political leaders to prioritize community interests above all else, demonstrating that democracy can foster cooperation for the benefit of the people. The Electoral Commission reported that 10,526 council seats were contested in the 2026 municipal elections.
The African National Congress (ANC) won the most votes, securing 30.89% and 3,164 council seats, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 24.60% and 1,527 seats. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) received 9.61% and 701 seats, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) garnered 6.25% and 505 seats. ActionSA obtained 5.68% of the vote and 219 seats.
Ramaphosa urged parties to negotiate in good faith during coalition negotiations, emphasizing the need for councils to be formed without delay and for elected officials to find common ground to work together towards service delivery, development, and opportunity.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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