ANC PUTS THE DA AT THE BOTTOM OF ITS COALITION PARTNER LIST – SAYS IT SHOULD ONLY BE A LAST RESORT!
The political battle over South Africa’s municipalities is intensifying after the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) reportedly resolved that the Democratic Alliance (DA) should only be considered as a last resort when negotiating coalition governments at local government level.
The decision reportedly emerged from an extended ANC NEC meeting held on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Gauteng.
The meeting followed the ANC’s disappointing performance in the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections, where the governing party suffered its worst electoral result since the dawn of democracy.
According to the final election figures, the ANC’s national support dropped from 45.59% in 2021 to just 30.76% in 2026.
The DA secured 24.64%, while the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party received 9.76% of the national vote.
One of the major issues reportedly discussed during the NEC meeting was whether the ANC’s partnership with the DA in the Government of National Unity (GNU) contributed to its declining electoral support.
Some ANC leaders reportedly believe working with the DA nationally has damaged the party’s relationship with its traditional supporters.
The latest position suggests that the ANC wants to explore alternative coalition arrangements before considering another partnership with the DA.
But this does not mean the DA has been completely ruled out. It means the party could become an option only when other negotiations fail.
The decision could have major consequences for coalition negotiations in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, where the DA emerged as the biggest political party but needs support from other parties to govern.
The challenge for the ANC is finding enough coalition partners to secure working majorities without the DA.
South Africa has 213 municipal councils, with 127 reportedly requiring coalition arrangements because no party secured an outright majority.
The coming days will therefore be crucial as political parties negotiate who gets to govern municipalities for the next five years.
But here is the big question: Is the ANC putting South Africans first by choosing coalition partners based on political principles, or is it prioritising its own political survival after losing millions of voters?
South Africans deserve coalitions that deliver jobs, clean water, electricity, accountable leadership and better services – not political arrangements designed simply to keep parties in power.
What do you think? Should the ANC completely avoid working with the DA, or should political parties put their differences aside when forming coalitions for the benefit of residents?
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