Coalition talks open in 120 South African councils
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Africanews
After the 4 November municipal elections, the ANC won 30.8% of the vote and remains the largest party, but without a majority in many municipal councils. The proliferation of councils without an absolute majority is forcing parties to negotiate coalitions to govern, according to Africanews.
Coalition talks are opening in 120 South African municipal councils after the 4 November local elections, as no party has an absolute majority in many municipalities. The African National Congress (ANC) remains the largest party with about 30.8% of the vote, ahead of the Democratic Alliance (DA), with nearly 24.6%, and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), with about 9.8%, according to results from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) reported by Africanews.
The ANC's score marks a decline from the 45.6% won by the party in the 2021 municipal elections. The party of Jacob Zuma, the former South African president, has emerged as an actor in coalition talks, while the fragmented vote is forcing the ANC and DA to seek partners to govern several councils, according to Africanews.
The discussions come after the ANC took the lead in 115 South African councils on 7 November. They also follow the publication, on 8 November, of the decline of the ANC to 30.76% in South African local elections.
