By JOHANNESBURG — The African National Congress (ANC) will convene an Extended Special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting today, 12 November, to adopt a formal negotiation framework following its sharp decline in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Scheduled to begin at 10:00 at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, the closed-door gathering represents the movement’s highest decision-making body between conferences.
The meeting follows the Independent Electoral Commission’s declaration of the municipal results earlier this week, which saw the ANC’s national vote share drop to just over 30%, leaving 139 of South Africa’s 213 municipalities hung.
In a statement issued by National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu on Wednesday evening, the party acknowledged that the electoral outcome requires deep introspection and decisive leadership as municipalities prepare to form new administrations.
“The election outcome has placed before the ANC a serious political responsibility to listen to the people, confront its shortcomings and provide leadership as municipalities prepare to establish governments,” the statement reads.
Emphasising that coalition talks cannot merely become a scramble for power, the party added that its response “must not be reduced to negotiations for municipal positions” but must prioritise “the lives of South Africans, the stability of local government and the renewal of the movement”.
A primary item on the agenda is the consideration and adoption of a Mandating Guide for the ANC Negotiations Team, alongside receiving reports on preliminary discussions already held with rival political parties.
With seven of the country’s eight metropolitan councils hung—including the economic hubs of Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni—the NEC’s directive will determine whether the party seeks power-sharing agreements aligned with the Government of National Unity or pivots toward alternative coalitions.
Ahead of today’s sitting, the ANC leadership undertook a rapid round of internal and alliance consultations to consolidate a collective position. The National Working Committee met on Monday, 9 November, followed by engagements with Tripartite Alliance partners COSATU and SANCO on Tuesday.
Further consultations were held on Wednesday afternoon with the ANC’s Leagues and the uMkhonto we Sizwe Liberation War Veterans (MKLWV).
