Councils must be constituted by 26 November as coalition talks begin

Municipalities where no party won an outright majority in the 2026 local government elections will need support to form working councils, according to Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa. SAnews reported that he made the appeal at a special meeting of ministers and provincial MECs on Tuesday.

The meeting looked at a set of interim guidelines meant to help parties negotiate coalitions and keep local government steady in the new term. A technical meeting on Monday had already worked through the draft and suggested changes before the revised version went to the political meeting for approval.

Hung councils and the deadline

Voting ended on 4 November 2026, and the results have left a number of councils hung. In those councils, parties must strike coalition deals or other cooperation agreements to build a governing majority.

Hlabisa said this calls for “political maturity” and a shared commitment to stability, accountability and continuity. He warned that talks could end in deadlocks or delays, and he asked everyone in the sector to step in early to help.

The electoral commission is due to publish the results in the Government Gazette this week. That starts a 14-day period in which metropolitan and local councils must meet and be constituted. According to the timeline presented, the period runs from 12 to 26 November 2026.

District councils can only be set up after every local council in the district has been constituted. If a municipality misses the deadline, the matter must be handled under the relevant legislation, the Minister said.

Why interim guidelines

Hlabisa said the Municipal Coalitions Bill, which would give coalitions a legal framework, is still going through Parliament. Until it is passed, the guidelines will serve as a stopgap to help parties negotiate agreements, resolve disputes and set up stable leadership.

He pointed to problems seen in the past, when shifting power relations between coalition partners led to speakers and mayors being removed and replaced again and again, sometimes for opportunistic reasons. Delays in electing office-bearers or filling vacancies can also leave a power vacuum. A dysfunctional council, he said, hurts the administration and, in turn, service delivery to residents.

What this means for residents

• Your local council should be constituted between 12 and 26 November, once the results are gazetted.
• District councils will be set up only after the local councils in their area are in place.
• The aim of the guidelines is to avoid constant leadership changes that can hold up decisions and disrupt services.

Hlabisa said the department, provincial governments and other partners will keep offering guidance and oversight after councils are formed. He said support would be especially important for municipalities with hung councils and those previously classed as dysfunctional. He also asked provincial MECs to stay available to municipalities during the process, and urged parties to use the guidelines to arrive at a common approach.

This story is based on reporting by SAnews.