South Africa’s Ruling Party Seeks Coalitions

After a disappointing showing in the recent local elections, South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) is seeking coalition partners to form a government. The ANC, which had previously held 45.59% of the vote in 2021, now holds only 30.76% of the local vote. With 127 of the 213 municipal councils remaining hung, meaning no party holds a majority of seats, the ANC has given its negotiators a mandate to engage with all political parties and civic movements in discussions about forming a coalition government.

The ANC held a meeting with its top decision-making body, the National Executive Committee, on Thursday, 12 November, to establish a framework for negotiations and hear reports on early talks with other parties. According to Business Day, the talks were expected to run late into Thursday night. An ANC spokesperson stated that there would not be a blanket approach until the NEC decides otherwise.

Business Day reported that the ANC had decided to move away from the Democratic Alliance (DA), its previous coalition partner, making the DA the "last resort" for potential coalitions. The DA had garnered 24.64% of the national vote in the local elections. An overwhelming majority in the NEC had reportedly resolved this issue, but the ANC has not confirmed this.

The ANC's coalition talks have received mixed reactions from party members. Some, like ANC's KwaZulu-Natal provincial convenor Michael Mabuyakhulu, have argued for a working relationship with the DA. Others have called for a case-by-case approach in each council, dismissing a potential grand coalition with the DA as "transactional politics".