DA Could Be Shut Out Of JHB As Cyril Ramaphosa Tells ANC Leaders To Explore Coalition Without Them

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly urged African National Congress (ANC) leaders to explore the possibility of forming a coalition government in Johannesburg without the Democratic Alliance (DA), adding momentum to growing calls within the party to reconsider its relationship with its government of national unity partner.

According to a report by TimesLIVE on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Ramaphosa made the proposal during Monday’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, where party leaders discussed the ANC’s approach to coalition negotiations following the November local government elections.

The report indicated that several ANC leaders supported exploring alternatives to working with the DA, particularly in Gauteng’s metropolitan municipalities.

The development comes after the ANC suffered significant electoral losses, leaving it without outright control of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.

In Johannesburg, the DA emerged as the largest party with 34.79% of the vote, followed by the ANC with 20.25% and ActionSA with 16.27%. The results mean that political parties must negotiate to determine who will govern the city.

Ramaphosa’s reported position has strengthened the argument among some ANC leaders that the party should consider coalition arrangements that exclude the DA where alternative partnerships are possible.

During the NWC discussions, Gauteng provincial leaders reportedly proposed working with ActionSA across all three metropolitan municipalities. An ANC insider told TimesLIVE that the proposal received overwhelming support.

The insider indicated that provincial leaders could establish a negotiating team to engage ActionSA, depending on the outcome of the national leadership’s discussions.

However, the final decision will rest with the ANC’s national structures.

The report also indicated that the ANC could still approach the DA as part of the coalition process, although an agreement between the two parties in Johannesburg was considered unlikely by an insider familiar with the discussions.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa reportedly urged ANC members to stop blaming one another for the party’s declining electoral support and concentrate on addressing the challenges facing the organisation.

The ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is expected to discuss the coalition question on Thursday, November 12, with its decision likely to guide negotiations in Gauteng and other municipalities.

The discussions could have significant implications for the political leadership of Johannesburg, where no party secured an outright majority.

For now, the ANC’s final coalition position remains subject to the outcome of its national leadership discussions.

https://x.com/TimesLIVE/status/2120502635803312257?a=5IcsTkggt2-jJTulJ3o&s=19

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