Developing story: talks are at an early stage and no agreements have been announced.

ActionSA has begun coalition talks with the ANC and the EFF as parties position themselves to run South Africa's hung councils, and says it is still waiting for meeting dates with the DA, the MK Party and others.

ActionSA's talks with the ANC began on Sunday and its talks with the EFF began on Monday. ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont described the first round with the ANC as "productive" and said the discussions focused on stable governance. The EFF talks centred on service delivery.

Why ActionSA matters

More than half of the country's 213 councils have no outright majority. Newly elected councils must hold their first meetings within 14 days of the formal declaration of results, when councillors elect mayors and other office-bearers.

Political analyst Joseph Sekhampu of North-West University has said a direct DA-ANC arrangement could form majorities in the big metros without ActionSA. He gave seat counts showing that in Johannesburg the DA and ActionSA together would hold 134 seats against the 136 needed, and in Ekurhuleni 106 against 113. He said a bloc of the ANC, ActionSA, the EFF and MK would hold majorities in all three Gauteng metros.

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has said his party holds decisive influence, and the party wants Nasiphi Moya to remain Tshwane mayor in any deal.

eThekwini

In eThekwini, ActionSA KwaZulu-Natal leader Zwakele Mncwango said: "There is no bloc in eThekwini that will be able to form a government without ActionSA." He described contact so far as informal "corridor discussions". DA KwaZulu-Natal leader Sithembiso Ngema said the DA's federal executive would make the final call and that the DA would not engage MK or the EFF. IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the IFP leadership would meet to form a negotiating team.

What we do not yet know

  • When ActionSA will meet the DA and MK, and what each party will demand.
  • Whether the DA's stated position on MK and the EFF reflects the federal executive's final decision.
  • The audited final seat counts in eThekwini.