DA confident of securing eThekwini mayoralty as coalition talks intensify

After the 2026 Local Government Elections in eThekwini, no political party secured an outright majority, pushing the city's control to the realm of coalition negotiations. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is optimistic about leading the new administration, with their mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen emphasizing the possibility of a DA-led coalition remains a strong contender.

The Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) results show the MK Party leading with 73 wards and 86 seats, while the DA claimed 33 wards and 57 seats. The ANC won two wards and 37 seats, and the IFP secured four wards and 15 seats. The remaining 68 parties collectively secured 28 seats without winning any ward. A party requires 112 of the 223 council seats to achieve an outright majority for governance.

Haniff Hoosen recounted his "Walk With Me" campaign, which involved campaigning for over 400 days across the city, starting on September 28, 2025. He aimed to engage with residents to gather firsthand insights into their challenges. Hoosen believes the outcome of the mayoral race will be decided by the councillors in the coming days.

He stated that the choice between a DA-led administration and an MK-led administration is currently on the table, with the final decision resting with the councillors on November 5. Hoosen also mentioned that discussions regarding coalition arrangements are ongoing, albeit not finalized yet. The DA has made significant gains in eThekwini, securing additional wards and increasing its vote by around 110,000 votes compared to the previous election in 2021.

Hoosen claims that this was due to voters taking their campaign message seriously, aimed at preventing an MK majority in Durban. Despite losing some wards, such as ward 48 in Phoenix to the IFP, Hoosen remains confident in the DA's overall performance, emphasizing the net gains. Narend Singh, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, and the IFP's former Chief Whip, expressed optimism about the party's performance, stating that the IFP secured 468 seats across council elections in KwaZulu-Natal.

The IFP plans to approach coalition negotiations with an open mind and a willingness to engage constructively with other parties. Smaller parties that secured council representation have also started outlining their positions on coalition negotiations, with some staying open to options and others choosing to remain independent. The newly formed eThekwini Ratepayers Political Movement (ERPM) led by Asad Gaffar secured two proportional representation (PR) seats and highlighted the party's growth through door-to-door work and volunteers.

Gaffar indicated that the party's decision on coalition negotiations would be guided by what is best for eThekwini.