ANC and EFF teams hold productive talks on municipal councils and governance

The African National Congress and the Economic Freedom Fighters held a meeting yesterday to discuss the composition of municipal councils and other matters of governance that affect both parties. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula confirmed that the ANC team met with the EFF’s National Negotiating Team and described the engagement as productive. The two sides agreed to meet again.

The talks focused on how councils are put together and how the parties can work together on shared governance issues at local level. In many South African municipalities neither party holds a clear majority, so discussions about council positions and cooperation have become a regular part of political life after elections.

Mbalula’s statement gave no further details on the specific municipalities under discussion or the exact outcomes of the meeting. He simply noted that the teams had concluded a productive session and would continue their discussions. Photos released with the statement showed members of both delegations together, including a handshake between senior figures and a group photograph of those who attended.

Meetings of this kind are not new. The ANC and EFF have previously engaged on local government matters, especially in metros and larger municipalities where coalition arrangements often decide who runs the council. Such talks usually cover the allocation of mayoral and speaker positions, executive committee seats, and the approach the parties will take on service delivery and administrative matters once councils are in place.

The EFF has positioned itself as a party that is willing to work with the ANC under certain conditions, while the ANC has sought partners to stabilise municipalities where it no longer commands an outright majority. Yesterday’s meeting fits into that ongoing pattern of negotiation rather than marking a sudden change in relations.

Neither side has released a joint statement or a detailed agenda beyond what Mbalula posted. For now, the public record remains limited to the confirmation that the meeting took place, that it was productive, and that further talks are planned. Residents in affected municipalities will be watching to see whether the renewed engagement leads to clearer arrangements for the councils that deliver basic services in their areas.

The next meeting is expected to build on the ground covered yesterday as both parties continue to navigate the realities of shared local government.

Source: https://x.com/MbalulaFikile/status/2121321646292373638?a=I3Kn2zi9xaF36FOqfa8&s=19

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