KZN hung councils' first meetings moved to week of 23 November

KwaZulu-Natal's hung councils will not hold their first meetings next week. KZN CoGTA has told municipal managers in hung local municipalities to move those inaugural meetings by a week, to the week of 23 November 2026, while councils where one party won outright go ahead from 13 November (KZN CoGTA Circular No. 28 of 2026).

Which KZN councils meet first, and when?

The circular lists these municipalities with outright majorities as cleared to proceed (KZN CoGTA):

The South African also lists Nkandla (19 November) and Mthonjaneni (20 November) among the councils going ahead (The South African). These two are not in the circular page published by KZN CoGTA, so check with the municipality.

See who won: uMngeni, Nongoma, Msinga, Nkandla, Richmond and Impendle.

What happens in hung councils?

Hung local councils that had planned first meetings for next week must move them to the week of 23 November. Municipal managers who already sent out notices for dates before 23 November must withdraw them, issue new notices as soon as possible and tell the department. They had to submit alternative dates by 12 November (KZN CoGTA).

Councils that had not planned meetings for next week should carry on preparing and confirm their dates with the department.

Why were the meetings moved?

The circular says it is to make sure first council meetings are processed efficiently and to allow planning by the IEC, CoGTA and the security cluster (KZN CoGTA). The South African reports the delay also gives parties more time for coalition talks (The South African).

Is the week of 23 November still within the legal deadline?

National CoGTA says the first meeting of a municipal council must be convened within 14 days after publication of the Government Gazette notice naming the elected councillors (gov.za). SABC News reports the results were gazetted on Wednesday, 11 November (SABC News), which puts the 14th day on 25 November. KZN CoGTA has not published individual dates for the hung councils yet.

What happens at a first council meeting?

Councillors are sworn in and elect a speaker. Depending on the council's system, they also elect an executive mayor or mayor and a deputy, and set up council committees (Inside Politics). In a hung council, the speaker vote is usually the first sign of which parties are working together.