The ANC remains South Africa's largest party nationally, but its national executive committee, the party's highest decision-making body, was due to adopt a framework for coalition negotiations and receive reports on initial contacts with other parties. The meeting was led by senior officials including President Cyril Ramaphosa, who cancelled a planned parliamentary appearance to answer lawmakers' questions.

Support for Ramaphosa's party fell sharply in major urban centres, including Johannesburg and Pretoria, following voter anger over corruption scandals and failures in basic public services.

ANC spokeswoman Mahlengi Bhengu said the party respected voters' choices and acknowledged the drop in support. She said the ANC had a clear plan to improve the lives of South Africans and was approaching the meeting confident in its programme.

Cape Town was the only one of South Africa's eight major metropolitan areas where a single party won an outright majority. The Democratic Alliance, the ANC's closest rival, received 56.4 percent of the vote there, while fragmented outcomes elsewhere are expected to produce difficult coalition bargaining.

The ANC has already shared power at national level since losing its parliamentary majority in the 2024 general election, when it entered a government of national unity with nine other parties. On Wednesday, the party indicated that its response to the local election result would not be limited to negotiations over positions, but would also focus on improving living conditions and renewing the organisation.

Past local coalitions have often been marked by infighting, changing alliances and collapsing majorities, leaving councils unable to act and basic services neglected. South African law requires newly elected councils to meet within 14 days of the formal declaration of results to elect mayors and other office-bearers.

The talks come as the ANC nears a leadership transition, with the party expected in coming months to select the candidate who will lead it into the 2029 general election. Local media have reported that some members want Ramaphosa to leave the ANC presidency before his term ends, arguing that the party needs a reset after the result. Ramaphosa has dismissed speculation that he plans to resign.

Source: France 24