ActionSA is preparing for coalition negotiations following encouraging support in Gauteng, with the party insisting that any agreement must be guided by clear conditions as the province’s three metropolitan municipalities head towards hung councils.
ActionSA Gauteng provincial chairperson Funzi Ngobeni said the party was encouraged by the support it had received across the province, thanking voters for placing their trust in the party.
“South Africans are putting their hopes in ActionSA. They believe we can bring accountability and fix our municipalities,” Ngobeni said at the Gauteng results centre in Alberton.
The party’s electoral performance could prove significant in the coming days as political parties assess their options for forming governments in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
Preliminary results and projections point to a fragmented political landscape in Gauteng, where no single party appears positioned to secure an outright majority in any of the three metros.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), however, is emerging as a strong contender across the province, while ActionSA’s support could make it an important player in coalition negotiations.
Cape Town stands out as the major exception, with the DA on course to retain an outright majority in the metro. Elsewhere, the party faces the prospect of having to negotiate with other political formations to secure control of councils.
ActionSA lays down coalition conditions
ActionSA has indicated that it is open to coalition discussions with any political party but insists that its principles will guide the negotiations.
The party has previously identified accountability, effective service delivery and action against undocumented foreign nationals among its priorities for potential coalition agreements.
Its position places it in a potentially influential position in Gauteng, particularly in Tshwane, where the party has made significant gains compared with the 2021 local government elections.
According to Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) projections based on 75% of votes counted, the combined vote share of the DA and ActionSA stands at 57.5% in Tshwane, 51.6% in Johannesburg and 49.3% in Ekurhuleni.
The figures suggest that a DA-ActionSA partnership could offer a viable route to governing Johannesburg and Tshwane, while Ekurhuleni presents a more complicated picture.
In Ekurhuleni, the DA and ActionSA’s combined projected vote share falls just short of 50%, potentially requiring support from another party to secure a majority.
An ANC-DA combination, by comparison, has a combined projected vote share of 52.2% in Ekurhuleni, 54.6% in Johannesburg and 54.4% in Tshwane.
The projections represent combined vote shares, not council seat allocations. The final composition of each council will determine which combinations can secure the votes needed to elect mayors and pass council decisions.
Khumalo promises safer communities
Meanwhile, ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, has vowed to prioritise crime prevention, the fight against drugs and improved municipal services.
Khumalo, who was elected as the Ward 6 councillor, thanked residents across Ekurhuleni, particularly those in his ward, for placing their trust in him.
“The work begins now. Our mission is to fight drugs, eradicate crime and restore safety in Ekurhuleni. We will work hard to deliver the services our people deserve,” he said.
His message signals the challenge facing ActionSA as it seeks to translate electoral support into tangible improvements for residents.
Beyond crime and drug-related activities, residents will expect reliable water and electricity, effective refuse removal and accountable municipal leadership.
Whether ActionSA secures a role in the next Ekurhuleni administration will depend on the final council numbers and the outcome of coalition negotiations.
Political analyst Dr Lungelwa Kaywood told SABC News that coalition agreements should be made public and prioritise service delivery rather than the distribution of political positions.
“What will make coalitions work … is written agreements that are made public. It cannot be a secret between the political parties,” Kaywood said.
She also stressed the importance of administrative stability, warning that changes in political leadership should not automatically disrupt municipal operations.
For ActionSA, the coming negotiations will test whether its growing support can translate into governing influence while maintaining the conditions it has promised voters.
For residents, the ultimate measure of success will be whether the new administrations can deliver stable leadership, safer communities and functioning municipalities.
