JOHANNESBURG, Tuesday 10 November 2026 — The African National Congress (ANC) will not attend a planned meeting of left-leaning political parties on Wednesday, secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has confirmed, as negotiations intensify over the formation of municipal governments following South Africa’s 4 November local government elections.
The Council of the Left meeting is expected to involve the South African Communist Party (SACP), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and other left-leaning organisations, with coalition negotiations among the issues under discussion.
Mbalula told Business Day that the ANC would not participate, explaining that the party had not attended previous meetings of the grouping.
ANC keeps coalition negotiations under national control
The decision comes as the ANC considers its options following an election in which it remained the largest party nationally but lost substantial support and failed to secure outright majorities in any of the country’s eight metropolitan municipalities.
The ANC has placed coalition negotiations under a national team led by Mbalula, rather than allowing provincial and regional structures to independently conclude governing arrangements.
The team includes senior party figures such as Gwede Mantashe, Parks Tau and Enoch Godongwana.
The party’s national leadership is expected to determine its broader coalition approach before negotiations are finalised in individual municipalities.
Left-leaning parties seek common ground
The proposed Council of the Left meeting follows calls from EFF leader Julius Malema for the ANC to reconsider its cooperation with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and engage parties that emerged from the broader liberation movement.
Malema previously urged the ANC to seek political cooperation with the EFF, MK Party and SACP.
Mbalula’s confirmation that the ANC will not attend Wednesday’s meeting does not, however, amount to a formal rejection of bilateral negotiations with any of those parties.
The ANC remains in the national Government of National Unity alongside the DA, while the EFF and MK Party have indicated their willingness to explore coalition arrangements with the governing party.
Metropolitan councils face coalition negotiations
The ANC’s decision comes amid negotiations to form administrations in seven of South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities.
The DA emerged as the largest party in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay, while the MK Party led in eThekwini. The ANC led in Mangaung and Buffalo City.
Cape Town was the only metropolitan municipality where a party secured an outright majority, with the DA winning 56.42% of the vote.
The results have left political parties weighing different combinations of governing partners, particularly in Gauteng’s three metropolitan municipalities.
ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane has indicated that the party will consider several options, including participating in minority governments or serving in opposition where appropriate.
The ANC’s national leadership is expected to provide further direction on its coalition strategy later this week, while the Council of the Left meeting is scheduled to proceed on Wednesday without the party’s participation.
