The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken a commanding lead in the City of Johannesburg vote count, positioning itself for a possible takeover of the metro as coalition negotiations begin ahead of the final election results. With 98% of the national vote counted, the African National Congress (ANC) remained ahead nationally, but the DA was leading in 27 councils and had secured control of 11. The DA's Johannesburg mayoral candidate, Helen Zille, is among several prominent political figures contesting the closely watched mayoral race.
In Gauteng, where 94% of the provincial vote had been counted, the DA was leading the vote count with 34.43%, translating to 2,284,954 votes and 206 seats. The party was leading in two councils. The ANC was in second place with 21.18% of the vote and 208 seats. It was leading in three councils but had not secured control of any. ActionSA followed with 17.09% of the vote and 62 seats. The party was not leading in any council and had not secured control of one.
Preliminary results showed the DA leading the vote count in Johannesburg with 36%, translating to 826,810 votes at the time of writing. The party had secured 45 seats. The ANC was in second place with 37 seats and 19.67% of the vote, while ActionSA followed with 16.28% and eight seats. According to the preliminary results, coalition negotiations could play a decisive role in determining who governs Johannesburg.
Coalition talks have begun, with DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis saying the party had approached several political organisations in areas where coalition governments were expected. Hill-Lewis said the discussions were informal at this stage and were likely to continue over the coming days. However, ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bengu said the party had not yet engaged other political organisations about possible coalition arrangements in the metros.
Zille faces competition for the Johannesburg mayoral position from several prominent figures, including ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, EFF candidate Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula, Patriotic Alliance (PA) candidate Kenny Kunene, and Build One South Africa's (BOSA) Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster. Despite the competition, Zille previously said she hoped the DA would secure an outright majority in the local government elections.
Zille defended the DA's previous participation in a multi-party coalition in Johannesburg but said the party would not repeat the same arrangement. She ruled out relying on the EFF to secure a majority through a coalition arrangement, saying the DA would not run the city in a nine-party coalition that depended on the EFF for a majority. Zille later clarified that she was not suggesting that securing an outright majority was the party's only option.
Vote counting and verification continue, with the IEC expected to announce the final election results on Sunday. The outcome of the coalition talks will determine who governs Johannesburg, one of the country's most closely watched metros. The DA's lead in the vote count positions it for a possible takeover of the metro, but the final outcome remains uncertain.
Key points
- The DA has taken a commanding lead in the City of Johannesburg vote count.
- Coalition negotiations have begun, with the DA approaching several political organisations.
- Helen Zille faces competition for the Johannesburg mayoral position from several prominent figures.
