# ANC Divided Over Proposed Coalition Deals With DA in South Africa *News · World Desk · Published 2026-11-11T04:48:27Z* Canonical: https://amk.news/article/anc-divided-over-proposed-coalition-deals-with-da-in-south-africa > South Africa's governing party is split over whether to form local government coalitions with the opposition Democratic Alliance following recent municipal elections. The disagreement comes as parties compete for control over major metropolitan areas across the country. The African National Congress (ANC) has delayed a decision on forming local government coalition partnerships with the Democratic Alliance (DA) after its national working committee failed to reach a consensus during a meeting in Johannesburg on Monday, November 9, 2026. ## Why is the ANC split over forming a coalition with the DA? The ANC remains fundamentally divided over how to govern South African municipalities after failing to secure majorities in recent local elections. According to News24, three primary options were presented to the ANC's national working committee: entering a formal coalition with the DA; forming an alliance with ActionSA, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and smaller political movements; or establishing a confidence and supply agreement. Under the confidence and supply framework, the DA would govern as a single party in municipalities where it holds the largest vote share, while the ANC would govern alone in areas where it leads, with both parties supporting each other on key mayoral and budget votes. _Watch: LGE 2026 | DA open to coalition talks, but with conditions — SABC News_ Resistance to collaborating with the DA remains strong within several sectors of the ANC. The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) strongly rejected any cooperation with the centre-right party. Speaking in Johannesburg, ANCYL Leader Collen Malatji stated that the DA and other right-wing parties must remain a "no-go area for any coalition arrangements," according to SABC News reporting. Malatji argued that the DA's positions on affirmative action, Black Economic Empowerment, and historical redress stand directly opposed to the ANC's core objectives. ## How are ActionSA and other parties shaping metro negotiations? ActionSA has emerged as the central power broker across Gauteng province's major industrial and urban centres, including Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni. The South African Star reported that political analyst Hlumelo Xaba identified ActionSA as replacing the EFF in the key kingmaker role for the three metropolitan areas, where no single party won an outright majority. However, personal and political rivalries complicate prospective arrangements between ActionSA and the DA. Early on Wednesday, November 11, EWN reported that ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba sent a proposal to DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis offering to withdraw his own candidacy for Johannesburg mayor, provided DA politician Helen Zille also steps aside from the mayoral race. ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont confirmed the authenticity of the proposal, telling EWN that the party remains willing to work alongside the DA but insists on Zille's exclusion from the top municipal office. _Herman Mashaba (Image: Wikimedia Commons)_ > "Our issue in Johannesburg is not the DA; it’s Helen Zille. There remains an openness to work with all political parties, including the DA," said ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont. Negotiations remain complex across Gauteng. ActionSA previously withdrew from a DA-led governing coalition in Tshwane in 2024, removing former mayor Cilliers Brink before backing ActionSA's Nasiphi Moya for the leadership post alongside the ANC and EFF. While analysts note that the DA and ActionSA command enough seats to control Tshwane jointly, arrangements in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni would require broader support from smaller political parties. ## What political background shapes South Africa's coalition crisis? The ANC has governed South Africa continuously at the national level since 1994, when Nelson Mandela became president following the end of apartheid. The country currently faces severe economic challenges, with World Bank data indicating an unemployment rate of 32.4% in 2025 across its population of 64.7 million people. The DA, founded in 2000, sits as the official national opposition and advocates centre-right liberal economic policies. In recent years, local governance across major metropolitan areas has grown highly fractured, resulting in unstable municipal administrations that frequently swap executive power through motions of no confidence. Internal debate within the ANC also focuses on long-term party survival. News24 reported that several members of the national working committee expressed concerns about the party's future if relegated to the opposition, citing the Western Cape province and Cape Town as examples where the ANC's vote share continuously shrank after losing executive power. Furthermore, former President Thabo Mbeki argued that the party needs to determine why its support dropped before finalizing any post-election partnership decisions. _40. St.Gallen Symposium-Herman Mashaba-HSGN 028-01990 (Image: Wikimedia Commons)_ ## What happens next in the local government negotiations? The ANC's ultimate decision on municipal coalitions rests with its National Executive Committee (NEC), which is scheduled to convene on Thursday, November 12, 2026. The top seven national officials of the party are expected to present the three governing models to the NEC members for a final vote. It remains unconfirmed whether the NEC will approve a uniform national strategy or allow provincial and local leadership structures to strike independent deals. Additionally, political outlets have not verified whether the DA leadership will accept ActionSA's condition regarding Helen Zille's mayoral candidacy in Johannesburg. ### South Africa in numbers Population64.7 million 2025GDP (current US$)$427.2 billion 2025GDP per capita$6,598 2025Inflation (consumer prices, annual)3.2% 2025Unemployment (% of labour force)32.4% 2025Source: [World Bank Open Data](https://data.worldbank.org/country/ZA), latest available year. Compiled by AMK News. **Sources:** This report draws on coverage by [News24](https://www.news24.com/politics/anc-divided-on-da-ahead-of-crucial-coalition-decision-20261110-1242), [EWN](https://www.ewn.co.za/mashaba-offers-to-drop-joburg-mayoral-bid-on-condition-zille-steps-aside/), [SABC News](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/da-a-no-go-area-for-any-coalition-arrangements-ancyl/), [The South African Star](https://thestar.co.za/news/2026-11-10-actionsa-holds-key-to-coalition-deals-in-gauteng-metros/), [BusinessTech](https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/883597/plan-to-kick-the-da-out-of-gauteng-as-coalition-lines-are-drawn/), [2oceansvibe News](https://www.2oceansvibe.com/1-spice/2/tuesday-morning-spice-791/). The wording is our own. --- Source: AMK News (https://amk.news). Reuse requires attribution and a link to the canonical URL.