Government

DA and ActionSA talk: why a deal only works in 1 of 4 metros

Herman Mashaba and Geordin Hill-Lewis met for 'frank and productive' talks. ActionSA says it will likely back the DA in Nelson Mandela Bay but calls Zille and Brink stumbling blocks. The seat maths in four metros.

By Reported Team

Bar chart of combined DA and ActionSA council seats against the majority needed in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay
Graphic: Reported, seats from Rateweb using IEC results

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba and DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis met on Thursday, 12 November, as coalition talks continue. Mashaba called it "a frank and productive meeting" in a post on X (IOL).

Neither side has said what was agreed. Mashaba has not disclosed what was discussed or whether any deal came out of it (IOL).

What has ActionSA said since the meeting?

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said the meeting was productive and that ActionSA is likely to work with the DA in Nelson Mandela Bay (SABC News).

On the Gauteng metros he was less positive. Beaumont, who is also ActionSA's chief coalition negotiator, described the DA's mayoral candidates for Johannesburg and Tshwane, Helen Zille and Cilliers Brink, as stumbling blocks to working with the DA (Newzroom Afrika).

The DA has said it will not negotiate through the media. Its spokesperson Jan de Villiers said the party wants "stable, effective governments that put residents first" (IOL).

What is still on the table?

Mashaba's letter to Hill-Lewis of 7 November set out these terms (IOL):

MetroMayor under ActionSA's proposalOther terms
JohannesburgA DA candidate, but not Helen ZilleMashaba also withdraws; ActionSA gets deputy mayor
TshwaneActionSA's Nasiphi MoyaCilliers Brink gives up his council seat
EkurhuleniPossibly a DA candidateActionSA open to backing the DA

Source: IOL. Reported covered the letter in more detail when it was first reported.

Would a DA and ActionSA deal be enough?

Only in Tshwane. By Reported's calculation from the final seats:

MetroDAActionSATogetherNeededResult
Johannesburg91431341362 short
Tshwane7448122108Majority
Ekurhuleni66401061137 short
Nelson Mandela Bay53255616 short

Sources: Rateweb from IEC results for Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni; Nelson Mandela Bay seats from Reported's seat maths.

In Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni the two parties would still need smaller partners such as the FF Plus or the PA. In Nelson Mandela Bay, ActionSA's two seats help the DA but leave it short, so it needs others as well. Our Gauteng coalition maths and Nelson Mandela Bay maths list the combinations that work.

Why is everyone waiting on the ANC?

News24 reported that all eyes were on the ANC's national executive committee meeting as parties waited to hear which partners it prefers (News24). A DA and ANC deal would reach a majority in all three Gauteng metros without ActionSA (Reported's Gauteng maths).

ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula is expected to announce the outcome of the NEC meeting on Friday, 13 November (EWN).

When will we know?

New councils have to hold their first sittings, where mayors are elected, by about 22 November. We explain the deadline in how new mayors are elected.

FAQ

Did the DA and ActionSA sign a coalition deal?

No deal had been announced. Mashaba called the 12 November meeting with Hill-Lewis frank and productive but did not say what was agreed.

Where would a DA and ActionSA coalition have a majority?

Only in Tshwane, where together they have 122 of 214 seats. They fall short in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay.

Will ActionSA back the DA in Nelson Mandela Bay?

ActionSA's Michael Beaumont told SABC News it is likely to work with the DA there.

When will the new mayors be elected?

New councils must hold their first sittings, where mayors are elected, by about 22 November 2026.

Sources