An Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) polling station official prepares the ballot papers at Hyde Park High School polling station in Johannesburg,
MIDRAND - As the counting of votes in the 2026 Local Government Elections continues, outright majorities remain out of reach for many political parties.
The next challenge will be whether parties can put their political ambitions aside and work together to form stable coalitions.
READ: MK Party says its door remains open to a coalition, but there are conditions
With coalition talks looming, political parties have been urged to find common ground and prioritise residents’ needs over political power.
eNCA spoke to Accord coalition researcher Thembelani Mazibuko, who said that while coalition negotiations are inherently political, parties need to step back and consider the bigger picture.
“They need to realise that the electorate doesn’t believe that any one of them should govern, obviously where there are hung councils. They should really put aside politics and focus on service delivery and really try to find each other,” he said.
On whether coalition negotiations should be more transparent, Mazibuko drew a comparison between the process and diplomacy.
He said negotiations behind closed doors were part of the nature of political deal-making.
“Diplomacy, by definition, happens behind closed doors, and there are parallels between negotiating for councils and diplomacy. I don’t think it’s going to be conceivable if coalition talks happen in public because there are deals that need to be made. It’s just the nature of politics.”