ANC calls the DA a last resort. 4 Free State councils need it
The ANC is reportedly treating the DA as a last resort in coalition talks. In four Free State hung councils, including Welkom, Sasolburg and Kroonstad, the DA is the ANC's only single route to a majority. Seat maths for 14 councils.
The ANC's national executive committee has reportedly resolved that the DA should be a last resort in council coalition talks (IOL). In the Free State, that leaves four hung councils where the DA is the only single party that can give the ANC a majority: Matjhabeng (Welkom), Metsimaholo (Sasolburg), Moqhaka (Kroonstad) and Masilonyana (Theunissen).
In the other ten, a single party other than the DA is enough. Seats are provisional IEC results via The Outlier.
How short is the ANC in each council?
The Free State has 15 hung councils, according to Cape Argus. The 14 local councils are below. Mangaung metro is covered in a separate article.
| Council (main town) | Needed | ANC | Biggest non-DA partner | ANC + that partner | ANC + DA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matjhabeng (Welkom) | 37 | 26 | EFF (5) | 31, no | 50, yes |
| Maluti-a-Phofung (QwaQwa) | 36 | 21 | ACM (15) | 36, yes | 35, no |
| Metsimaholo (Sasolburg) | 24 | 17 | EFF (5) | 22, no | 28, yes |
| Moqhaka (Kroonstad) | 21 | 15 | EFF (4) | 19, no | 28, yes |
| Dihlabeng (Bethlehem) | 20 | 18 | EFF (2) | 20, yes | 30, yes |
| Setsoto (Ficksburg) | 16 | 13 | EFF (4) | 17, yes | 18, yes |
| Ngwathe (Parys) | 14 | 10 | ACT (4) | 14, yes | 18, yes |
| Nala (Bothaville) | 12 | 9 | EFF (4) | 13, yes | 11, no |
| Nketoana (Reitz) | 10 | 9 | ACM (2) | 11, yes | 13, yes |
| Masilonyana (Theunissen) | 10 | 7 | AIC (1) | 8, no | 13, yes |
| Tswelopele (Bultfontein) | 9 | 8 | EFF (2) | 10, yes | 12, yes |
| Phumelela (Vrede) | 9 | 8 | FF Plus (2) | 10, yes | 11, yes |
| Mafube (Frankfort) | 9 | 7 | FF Plus (2) | 9, yes | 10, yes |
| Mohokare (Zastron) | 7 | 6 | EFF (2) | 8, yes | 10, yes |
Seats from The Outlier (IEC data), linked per council. "Biggest non-DA partner" is the largest party other than the ANC and DA shown in The Outlier's seat summary. ACM is the African Content Movement. This is seat arithmetic, not a forecast of who will govern.
Where does the ANC need the DA?
In Matjhabeng the ANC has 26 of 72 seats, 11 short, while the DA has 24. The EFF, the next biggest party, has 5.
In Metsimaholo the ANC has 17 of 46 seats and needs 24. The DA's 11 would get it there. The EFF and the SMM have 5 each.
In Moqhaka the ANC has 15 of 40 and the DA 13, with 21 needed. The EFF's 4 would leave the ANC two short.
In Masilonyana the ANC has 7 of 19 and needs 10. The DA has 6, and no other party has more than one seat.
In all four, the ANC could still try to build a majority from several smaller parties instead.
Why is Maluti-a-Phofung different?
It is one of two councils, with Nala (Bothaville), where the DA alone is not enough. The ANC's 21 seats and the DA's 14 make 35, one short of 36. The African Content Movement's 15 seats would get the ANC to exactly 36.
The DA's Jafta Mokoena told The Guard that talks there "seem rather complicated" because the DA is the third-largest party.
What has the Free State ANC said?
Provincial spokesperson Thabo Meeko told The Guard the ANC had been approached by other parties but could not finalise anything before its NEC adopted a framework to guide the talks.
Nationally, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said there would be no "blanket approach" and that each municipality would be assessed on its own (IOL). Reported ran the same numbers for Limpopo's 10 hung councils.
When must the councils sit?
Councillors count as elected from 8 November, so first sittings, where speakers and mayors are chosen, must be called by about 22 November (SAnews).
FAQ
How many hung councils are there in the Free State?
The Free State has 15 hung councils after the 2026 local elections, according to Cape Argus: Mangaung metro and 14 local councils.
How many seats does the ANC have in Matjhabeng?
The ANC has 26 of Matjhabeng's 72 seats and the DA 24, with 37 needed for a majority, based on provisional IEC results via The Outlier.
When will Free State councils elect mayors?
Councillors count as elected from 8 November 2026, so first council sittings, where mayors are elected, must be called by about 22 November, according to SAnews.