ANC rethinks coalition strategy: ‘No one-size-fits-all approach’ - News24

The ANC says its approach to coalition negotiations will not be a blanket one.

“You really need to analyse this municipality by municipality; you need to look at Johannesburg differently; you need to look at eThekwini differently.

“We have a package for eThekwini that is different to Buffalo City; the posture of the ANC NEC [national executive committee] is likely going to be in that direction. You can’t tackle this with a one-size-fits-all type of approach,” said ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu on Thursday.

Bhengu added that the party’s national executive committee (NEC) would be central to the party’s discussions as it meets at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg to discuss coalition formations across hung councils in the country.

“Ultimately, with these coalition arrangements, the ultimate test is that whatever coalitions are decided upon will help any municipality do its work of delivering basic services to people. Coalition agreements must bring stability, and these are all the principles that the ANC has always advanced in its coalitions.”

Earlier this week, the ANC said it would “centralise negotiations” and had appointed the same team as in May 2024 to lead negotiations.

Bhengu’s comments imply a less centralised approach.

She said there have been informal meetings between the ANC and various other parties.

The NEC is locked in what could be a marathon meeting to debate its approach to coalition negotiations and potentially rework its coalition framework.

The ANC’s coalition framework was adopted by the NEC in 2023 and actively governs the party’s negotiations, serving as an internal rulebook designed to prevent unstable, short-term power-sharing deals.

The framework is centred around several principles, including barring local structures from finalising deals on their own.

According to the framework, they must report their findings to the national negotiating team and the NEC, which issues the final terms of reference and approves which parties the ANC will partner with or support in specific councils.

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