EFF, ActionSA and ANC kick off coalition talks as fight for Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni metros intensifies

Ask AI 1minActionSA has met with the EFF to kickoff coalitions talks on Monday.

The race to control three of Gauteng’s biggest metros has intensified, with the EFF and ActionSA officially opening coalition talks and setting their sights on power-sharing agreements within 14 days.

The parties met in Johannesburg on Monday following the 2026 local government elections, which left Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni without an outright winner.

Their negotiations could prove decisive in determining who governs the three metros, with political parties now under pressure to secure enough support to form municipal administrations before the first council sittings, expected around November 25 or 26.

The first council meetings will see councillors sworn in, speakers elected and executive mayors chosen.

The successful mayors will then appoint up to 10 Members of Mayoral Committees (MMCs) to oversee municipal departments.

Both the EFF and ActionSA described their first engagement as positive, signalling a willingness to explore possible governing arrangements.

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said the meeting was constructive and mutually respectful, with discussions centred on political stability and service delivery.

“We are committed to engagements with all political parties and await confirmation of meeting dates from the DA, MK and other parties next,” he said.

ActionSA has also met with the ANC to discuss coalition plans.

ActionSA has met with the ANC to discuss coalition plans.

The EFF said its negotiating team had been given a clear mandate: any coalition agreement must put communities first while protecting the party’s principles and values.

But the negotiations face a major political obstacle following ActionSA leader and Joburg mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba’s rejection of a possible coalition with the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Mashaba, speaking at the National Results Operations Centre in Midrand on Sunday, labelled the DA “racist” and said working with the party would amount to betraying Black voters.

“I can’t support the racist. For 34 years of my life, my father, my grandparents lived under an oppressive, violent past. There’s no way I’m going to let it repeat itself under my watch,” Mashaba said.

His remarks could narrow ActionSA’s options as parties negotiate to secure control of the hung councils.

With no party holding a majority in the three metros, the outcome will depend on which political formations can build enough support to elect mayors and establish functioning administrations.