ANC to skip Council of the Left meeting: what it is and who's going
The SACP, EFF, MK party and other left-leaning parties meet on Wednesday to discuss coalitions after the local elections. The ANC says it won't attend. What the council is and why it matters for hung councils.
The ANC will not attend a Council of the Left meeting on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, where the SACP, EFF, MK party and other left-leaning parties are expected to discuss coalition talks after last week's local elections (Business Day).
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula confirmed the decision. "We have not attended the left party meeting before, and we will not attend it now," he told Business Day.
What is the Council of the Left?
It is a grouping of left-wing parties and organisations set up after an earlier conference of the left. According to IOL, the council gave the SACP a one-year mandate to coordinate left forces. SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila said the party would use the council to discuss "a common agenda of the left forces" with parties that contested the election (SABC News).
Mapaila told eNCA the session would let the left "reflect on what the masses have said about us".
Who is expected at the meeting?
| Party | Position |
|---|---|
| SACP | Convening the council and says it gives no automatic support to any party |
| EFF | Expected to attend, and has said it is willing to work with the ANC |
| MK party | Expected to attend, and has said it is willing to work with the ANC |
| ANC | Not attending |
Sources: Business Day, SABC News.
Why does it matter for coalitions?
Only one metro has a single-party majority. The DA won Cape Town with 56.42% of the vote, while Nelson Mandela Bay, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Buffalo City, Mangaung and eThekwini will be run by coalitions (Business Day).
National vote shares in the local elections, as reported by Business Day:
| Party | Share of the vote |
|---|---|
| ANC | 30.7% |
| DA | 24.24% |
| MK party | 9.76% |
| EFF | 6.22% |
The ANC is also still in the government of national unity with the DA at national level, which Business Day notes adds another layer to its coalition choices (Business Day).
What does the SACP want from coalition partners?
Mapaila said the SACP's non-negotiables include better services for communities and direct budgeting for communities. "There is no automatic support for any single party," he said (SABC News; IOL).
How is the ANC handling coalition talks?
The ANC has centralised its negotiations, so provinces and regions have little say over which parties it partners with. Mbalula leads its coalitions task team, which includes ministers Parks Tau, Enoch Godongwana and Gwede Mantashe (Business Day).
Deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane said the party's approach would be guided by its national executive committee, "informed by the outcomes of every municipality" (Business Day).
FAQ
When is the Council of the Left meeting?
Business Day reports the meeting is on Wednesday, 11 November 2026.
Is the ANC attending the Council of the Left meeting?
No. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the party has not attended these meetings before and will not attend this one.
Which parties are in the Council of the Left?
The meeting involves the SACP, EFF, MK party and other left-leaning parties, according to Business Day. The SACP has a one-year mandate to coordinate the council, IOL reports.
Which metros will be run by coalitions?
Nelson Mandela Bay, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Buffalo City, Mangaung and eThekwini. Only Cape Town has a single-party majority, won by the DA.