Developing story: the ANC's national executive committee meets on Thursday and the party's approach could change.
The ANC has moved to centralise all coalition negotiations after the 4 November local government elections, with a circular placing talks under a national negotiating team led by secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.
The circular, dated 8 November and addressed to provincial chairpersons and secretaries, says provincial, regional and municipal structures may hold exploratory talks and prepare inputs, but may not agree terms. It states: "Final coalition arrangements will be confirmed only once the secretary-general has given formal written authorisation."
What the circular covers
According to the document as reported, the restriction applies to coalition and co-governance agreements, confidence-and-supply deals, and the allocation of mayoral posts, speakerships, chief whips and mayoral committee portfolios. The circular reportedly says council-by-council coalitions without a shared programme "often proved unstable", and requires written programmes, a budget the council can pass, dispute-resolution mechanisms and full-term arrangements.
The national team is reported to include Gwede Mantashe and Nomvula Mokonyane, along with other senior leaders and members of the national executive committee (NEC).
In KwaZulu-Natal, a provincial directive dated 6 November reportedly told regions that none was authorised to enter any coalition engagement without an explicit mandate from the province.
Opposition benches are an option
The ANC's national working committee meets on Monday and the NEC on Thursday, where a coalition task team is expected to present options. Mbalula has said the party is in no hurry: "The ANC will not be in a hurry to get into coalitions. That is not the only option. There is also an option to sit in opposition."
The party has reportedly begun preliminary discussions with ActionSA. The ANC won 30.76% nationally in the final results declared on Sunday, and no party has an outright majority in most of the 213 municipalities.
Mbalula on Ramaphosa
Mbalula also dismissed speculation that President Cyril Ramaphosa might step down as ANC president. He was quoted as saying: "The president is not going anywhere and there is no such consideration in the ANC." The party earlier said it was unaware of the reports.
What we do not yet know
Reported counts of hung councils range from 127 to 139 depending on the source, and we are seeking confirmation from the IEC. The circular itself has not been published, and the ANC has not released its own text of it. The NEC's decision on Thursday will determine whether the approach changes.
