ActionSA has emerged as the decisive kingmaker in Gauteng's coalition negotiations, with South Africa's political parties racing to agree who will govern Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni after the 4 November local elections produced no outright winner in any of the three metros.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) won the largest share of the vote in all three metros but fell short of a majority. In Johannesburg, the DA took 34.79% of the vote, ahead of the African National Congress (ANC) on 20.25% and Herman Mashaba's ActionSA on 16.27%. In Tshwane, ActionSA won 48 of the council's 214 seats.

Fourteen days to strike a deal

Parties have 14 days to conclude coalition negotiations in hung municipalities, and newly elected councils must convene to elect mayors, speakers and other office-bearers within 14 working days of the results being gazetted.

The ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) is meeting on Thursday, 12 November, to decide the party's coalition strategy. President Cyril Ramaphosa has told ANC leaders to explore a Johannesburg coalition without the DA, according to the Sunday Times, and Gauteng provincial leaders favour working with ActionSA across all three metros.

ActionSA sets its conditions

ActionSA has laid down firm conditions for any deal. Its national chair, Michael Beaumont, said the party would not support a Johannesburg government led by the DA's mayoral candidate, Helen Zille, and is instead pressing for Mashaba to return as mayor. In Tshwane, the party wants to keep incumbent mayor Nasipho Moya, who has held the post since October 2024, in office.

Beaumont said ActionSA had reached out to all the larger parties, including the DA, the ANC and the EFF, and would judge any agreement on a service delivery programme. The ANC has so far held only an initial engagement with ActionSA. Source: eNCA