ANC negotiates coalitions with MK, IFP and BOSA after municipal elections
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on The Maravi Post
The ANC has entered into separate talks with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, the Inkatha Freedom Party and Build One South Africa on forming coalitions in municipalities without an outright majority after the 2026 local elections. Secretary General Fikile Mbalula confirmed the meetings, which were described as productive, according to Maravi Post.
The African National Congress (ANC), South Africa’s ruling party, held separate meetings on Saturday with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK), the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and Build One South Africa (BOSA) to discuss the formation of municipal councils and their governance. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula confirmed the meetings in a social media post.
The three delegations were each led by their national negotiating teams, with Mmusi Maimane heading BOSA’s. The ANC described the exchanges as productive and plans to continue discussions in municipalities where no party won an absolute majority in the 2026 local elections.
These negotiations follow the decision of the ANC’s expanded National Executive Committee to engage with all the parties, civic movements and independents concerned. The party wants any agreement to rest on a common programme with measurable targets for public services, including water, electricity, sanitation and road maintenance.
The ANC had already handed the conduct of discussions on municipal coalitions to its national office on 2 November. The MK party had then begun negotiations with the ANC in eThekwini on 8 November, before the new discussions extended to the MK, the IFP and BOSA.
