The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has emerged as the largest party in eThekwini’s new council, but its 86 seats fall short of a majority, setting up negotiations over who will govern South Africa’s most populous city.
The council has 223 seats, and 112 are needed for a majority. The Democratic Alliance won 57 seats, the African National Congress 37 and the Inkatha Freedom Party 15, according to IOL’s Sunday Tribune. No party can govern alone, and the outcome will depend on the combinations that can secure enough support in the council.
Analysts see a possible ANC, DA and IFP pact
Political analysts cited by the newspaper said the ANC, DA and IFP, which already cooperate in KwaZulu-Natal’s Government of Provincial Unity, could form the next eThekwini administration. That remains a forecast rather than a concluded agreement. The DA has ruled out joining a coalition with the MK Party, narrowing the options available to the party that won the most seats.
University of KwaZulu-Natal analyst Zakhele Ndlovu said the provincial partners were well placed to govern the city and suggested ActionSA could join them. Analyst Jabulani Nyawo also considered an ANC, DA and IFP arrangement likely, pointing to their existing cooperation in the province. The parties have yet to settle the allocation of leadership roles or publicly confirm a governing deal.
Majority arithmetic leaves negotiations open
The seat distribution means the MK Party’s first-place finish does not guarantee it will lead the administration. A group of parties can form a majority if their combined councillors reach the 112-seat threshold. Conversely, disagreements over partners or leadership posts could prolong negotiations and complicate the formation of a stable council.
The negotiations matter beyond the mayoral contest: the council must organise its leadership and make decisions on budgets, municipal appointments and service priorities. With water, sanitation, infrastructure and financial management already central concerns in eThekwini, residents will be watching whether parties can turn the arithmetic into a functioning administration.
Source: IOL’s Sunday Tribune, “eThekwini coalition negotiations open after no party wins majority,” 9 November 2026. This is an original Sunday Express report based on that coverage.
Featured image: MK Party wins most eThekwini seats as coalition talks begin. Image credit: Independent Newspapers Archives (via IOL).