Developing story: the NEC meeting is under way on Thursday 12 November and no decision has been announced.

The African National Congress's national executive committee meets today to set the framework the party will use to negotiate coalitions in councils where no party won an outright majority.

The party's national working committee recommended that the meeting concentrate on a coalition negotiating framework rather than a wider review of the election result, according to reports of the agenda. The party's top seven officials are reportedly set to present the NEC with three options.

The options reportedly on the table

  • A formal coalition with the DA.
  • A broader arrangement involving ActionSA, the EFF and smaller parties.
  • A deal with the DA under which each party governs where it is largest and supports the other's administrations elsewhere.

The ANC has not confirmed these options. Our earlier reporting noted that President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly urged the party to explore a Johannesburg coalition without the DA.

Where the parties stand

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula leads the party's coalition task team, which also includes Parks Tau, Enoch Godongwana and Gwede Mantashe. Mbalula has said the party is "looking for stable councils."

In the final results declared by the Electoral Commission of South Africa, the ANC won 30.76%, the DA 24.64% and the MK Party 9.76%.

DA federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has said the party has prepared detailed coalition frameworks that will be made public once agreements are concluded. The DA has also floated a "government of local unity" model for hung councils.

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba wrote to Hill-Lewis on 7 November proposing that he withdraw from the Johannesburg mayoral race if the DA's Helen Zille also steps aside, with ActionSA taking the deputy mayoralty. In Tshwane, the proposal asks the DA's Cilliers Brink to give up his council seat in return for DA support for ActionSA's mayoral candidate, Nasiphi Moya.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has reportedly signalled a preference for a coalition without the DA, while the MK Party has ruled out working with the DA.

What happens next

The DA and ActionSA are expected to meet on Thursday. Talks between the ANC and other parties are expected to follow the NEC meeting.

What we do not yet know

  • Which option, if any, the NEC adopts, and when it will announce it.
  • Whether the ANC will negotiate municipality by municipality or under a single national position.
  • The outcome of the DA and ActionSA meeting.

We will update this report when the ANC briefs the media.