ANC-DA 'confidence and supply' deal: what it means for 6 metros

A confidence and supply deal lets one party run a council alone without a majority, because another party promises to back it on the votes that could topple it: electing the mayor, defeating motions of no confidence and passing the budget. The backing party gets no mayoral committee seats.

It is one of three options the ANC's national executive committee (NEC) is weighing as it meets on 12 November, News24 reported. Under the version discussed by the ANC's national working committee, the DA would govern Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay alone, and the ANC would govern Mangaung and Buffalo City, with each backing the other. No decision had been announced when this was published.

How is it different from a coalition?

In a coalition, parties share power. They split the mayoral committee and other posts, and agree on a shared programme. The CoGTA guidelines published this week encourage parties in that position to sign written agreements covering priorities, posts and how disputes are settled.

In a confidence and supply deal, the supporting party stays outside the executive. It votes for, or abstains on, the agreed votes and is free to oppose the rest. The Dullah Omar Institute describes these as minority governments that depend on other parties "lending their support on specific matters" such as office-bearers, the budget, by-laws and senior appointments (Dullah Omar Institute). A Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung report defines "supply" as the budget and appropriation votes (FES).

Sources: Dullah Omar Institute, FES, News24.

Why does the budget vote matter so much?

Because a minority government cannot pass one on its own. Under section 160 of the Constitution, a council can only approve budgets, impose rates and raise loans with a majority of all its members. A mayor with 91 of Johannesburg's 270 seats, for example, would need at least 45 more votes for every budget.

That is the "supply" part of the deal. Without it, a minority council can elect a mayor and still be stuck when the budget comes due.

What would the ANC and DA deal look like in each metro?

Sources: seats from Rateweb using IEC results files, checked 12 November 2026 (Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Nelson Mandela Bay, Mangaung, Buffalo City). Combined totals by Reported.

On these numbers the two parties together clear the majority line in all six metros. News24 reports that supporters of the idea in the ANC see it as a way to cut out smaller parties and stabilise councils (News24).

What are the ANC's other options?

The other two models News24 reported are a full coalition with the DA, repeating the government of national unity at local level, and a coalition with ActionSA, the EFF and smaller parties (News24). The working committee did not decide, partly because only the NEC can make that call. News24 says the committee itself is divided on working with the DA.

Coalition talks are top of the agenda at the NEC meeting, eNCA reported.

Has this been tried in South Africa before?

Yes, in different forms. The Dullah Omar Institute lists Nelson Mandela Bay, Tshwane and Metsimaholo (Sasolburg) among municipalities that have had minority governments (Dullah Omar Institute). After the 2021 elections, the FES report notes, some parties chose not to back a grouping's candidates for mayor and speaker but undertook to support its governance decisions (FES).

These deals are only as strong as the parties' word. The supporting party can withdraw at any time, and a motion of no confidence needs only a council majority. For how that works, see Reported's explainer on removing a mayor.

When will we know?

New councils must be constituted between 12 and 26 November 2026, according to CoGTA. Whatever the NEC decides must be in place by each council's first sitting, when councillors elect a speaker and mayor. For the seat maths if the ANC avoids the DA in Johannesburg, see Reported's NEC explainer.