ANC says no party is excluded from coalition talks

The African National Congress (ANC) is reaching out to all political parties, civic movements and independent candidates in hung councils, according to the party's national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu. The ANC's national executive committee (NEC) endorsed this inclusive approach at a recent meeting. Bhengu stated that talks with various political parties are underway, guided by the ANC's coalition framework. It was also mentioned that a planned media briefing on Saturday has been postponed.

The ANC insists that any coalition agreement must be based on a common minimum program with clear service delivery targets. Stability, transparency, and accountability in municipal governance are also key priorities for the party, with plans to combat corruption. The ANC will publicly share its stance on the coalition talks next week, on Tuesday, and will refrain from commenting on any decisions until then.

In the recent municipal elections, the ANC's support dropped to 30.76%, down from 45.59% in 2021, according to the final results of the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). This was despite the party remaining the largest nationally. Notably, the ANC lost its majority in many councils it had historically dominated, including Buffalo City in the Eastern Cape.

Over half of the country's 213 municipal councils are now without an outright majority, with the final number expected to be confirmed in the Government Gazette.

In Johannesburg's metros, the Democratic Alliance (DA) led in vote share, followed by the ANC and ActionSA. In eThekwini, the MK Party secured over 38% of the vote, ahead of the DA with about 25% and the ANC with about 16%. Cape Town was the only metropolitan area where the DA won outright. The ANC and DA have collaborated nationally as part of the government of national unity since the 2024 general elections.

Political analyst Dale McKinley noted that the ANC still holds significant bargaining power, despite its reduced support. He explained that while the party is now sometimes the junior partner in municipalities, it remains the largest party in most. McKinley suggested that the ANC's decision to initiate coalition talks from the center is sensible given the instability of the previous term, though it may face resistance in places like Gauteng where local rivalries could be an issue.