Developing story: this article will be updated as the parties say more.

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba and Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Geordin Hill-Lewis met on Thursday 12 November to discuss who will run Gauteng's three big metros. Mashaba described the meeting as "frank and productive". Neither party has said whether it produced an agreement.

The DA leads in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni but holds an outright majority in none of them, so it needs partners to elect mayors. Councils must hold their first sittings within 14 days of the declaration of results on 8 November.

What was said after the meeting

Mashaba announced the meeting in a post on X, calling it "frank and productive" and part of ActionSA's talks with other parties. ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont posted a photograph of Mashaba and Hill-Lewis shaking hands. ActionSA described the talks as productive.

Mashaba has not said what was discussed. Beaumont confirmed that ActionSA sent a letter to the DA but declined to say more. DA national spokesperson Jan de Villiers said the party's "objective is to establish stable, effective governments".

What is on the table

In a letter dated 7 November, Mashaba proposed a split of the metros, as the proposals have been reported:

  • Johannesburg: Mashaba and DA federal chairperson Helen Zille would withdraw from the mayoral race. The DA would nominate another candidate and keep the mayoralty, with ActionSA taking the deputy mayor post.
  • Tshwane: DA mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink would give up his council seat, and the DA would back ActionSA's mayoral candidate, Dr Nasiphi Moya.
  • Ekurhuleni: ActionSA could back a DA mayoral candidate.

The letter followed a telephone call between Mashaba and Hill-Lewis on 7 November, in which Mashaba asked for talks on the metros to start as soon as possible.

What an analyst says

Elections analyst Wayne Sussman told the Cape Town Press Club on Thursday that a clash of personalities is the main obstacle. He said Mashaba does not want Zille to become mayor and that ActionSA will not hand the DA the Tshwane mayoralty.

Sussman said a DA and ANC arrangement makes better numerical sense and would offer more stability. He cautioned against copying the national unity model at council level: "If you are just going to dish out portfolios to small parties, you are going to make your own party angry."

What we do not yet know

  • Whether the two leaders agreed on any of the 7 November proposals.
  • Whether Zille has agreed to step aside in Johannesburg.
  • How the ANC's national executive committee, which met on Thursday, will position the party in the three metros.
  • Whether any further meetings are scheduled before the council deadline.