# ActionSA and DA Leaders Hold Coalition Talks in Gauteng Herman Mashaba and Geordin Hill-Lewis discuss potential governance arrangements for three key metros. - **Source:** [IOL News](https://www.iol.co.za/news) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2967225a-1976-4cea-ba22-ec43f1f84bda ## Strategic Coalition Discussions ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba met with DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis to discuss potential coalition arrangements. The meeting follows the recent local government election results in Gauteng, where no single party secured an outright majority. These discussions aim to resolve the political deadlock currently affecting the Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipalities. ## Addressing Ideological Tensions The meeting occurred despite Mashaba’s previous public criticism regarding alleged racist elements within the DA. Mashaba stated he could not support the party in its current form, citing his personal history and values. However, he indicated that cooperation remains possible if the DA addresses these specific concerns to his satisfaction. ## Proposed Mayoral Power Sharing On November 7, Mashaba sent a formal letter to Hill-Lewis proposing a structured power-sharing arrangement. The plan suggests that both Mashaba and Helen Zille withdraw from the Johannesburg mayoral race. This would allow the DA to nominate a candidate supported by ActionSA, while ActionSA would secure the deputy mayoral position. ## Tshwane and Ekurhuleni Proposals The proposal for Tshwane involves DA candidate Cilliers Brink relinquishing his council seat to facilitate the election of ActionSA’s Dr. Nasiphi Moya as mayor. Additionally, the arrangement opens the door for ActionSA to support a DA mayoral candidate in Ekurhuleni. These negotiations are critical for establishing stable administrations in these key regions. ## DA Stance on Negotiations DA spokesperson Jan de Villiers confirmed the party is engaging with various political formations to form stable governments. The DA emphasizes that its approach is guided by principles of clean governance, anti-corruption, and the rule of law. The party maintains that it will not conduct these sensitive coalition negotiations through public media. ## Context of Election Results The DA emerged as the leading party in all three metropolitan municipalities but fell short of the threshold required for independent governance. Consequently, the party must secure support from other political entities to elect mayors and form functional administrations. This necessity forces parties to navigate complex compromises to ensure municipal service delivery. ## Nature of the Engagement Mashaba described the recent meeting with Hill-Lewis as both frank and productive, though he did not disclose specific outcomes or agreements. The meeting was part of a broader series of engagements ActionSA is conducting with various political parties. Both leaders are currently balancing internal party pressures with the need for governance. ## Future Governance Implications The success of these talks will determine the political stability of South Africa's major economic hubs. If the parties fail to reach an agreement, the municipalities face continued administrative uncertainty and potential service delivery delays. Observers are watching closely to see if ideological differences can be bridged for the sake of governance. ## Sources covering this story - https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2026-11-12-frank-and-productive-mashaba-meets-hill-lewis-as-coalition-talks-continue/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._