WATCH | DA in coalition talks with Jacob Zuma’s MK Party
· The South African
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has entered coalition talks with former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, despite its previous opposition to working with the party.
The two parties met in Midrand, Johannesburg, on Saturday, 14 November, following the local government elections, which left more than 130 councils without an outright majority.
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The meeting followed an approach by DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis to Zuma earlier this week.
DA REACHES OUT TO MK PARTY
MK Party national coalition negotiator advocate Dali Mpofu confirmed that Hill-Lewis had written to Zuma requesting a meeting.
“I can confirm that the DA has reached out. Their leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, wrote a letter to President Zuma inviting discussions on coalitions,” Mpofu reportedly said.
Mpofu led the MK Party’s negotiations with the DA on Saturday.
The meeting marks a shift in the DA’s longstanding position on working with the MK Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Neither the DA nor the MK Party has publicly announced a coalition agreement.
DA SETS CONDITIONS FOR COALITIONS
Following the 4 November elections, the DA’s Federal Executive resolved to engage political parties in municipalities where no party secured an outright majority.
DA Federal Council chairperson Ashor Sarupen said negotiations would centre on accountable governance, tackling corruption, service delivery, non-racialism and respect for the rule of law.
The DA secured the largest share of votes in Gauteng’s three metropolitan municipalities but fell short of the majority needed to govern independently.
MK PARTY ALSO MEETS ANC
Meanwhile, MK Party deputy president Duduzane Zuma held separate coalition talks with the African National Congress (ANC) on Saturday.
Speaking to SABC News, Zuma said political differences should not prevent parties from finding common ground.
WATCH | MK Party first deputy president Duduzane Zuma says the party is willing to work with any political formation. He was speaking after coalition talks with the DA in Waterfall, Johannesburg, today. pic.twitter.com/BCMT6RUUAJ
— SABC News (@SABCNews) November 14, 2026
“We need to build bridges. Even though we may not agree, conversations are conversations,” he said.
The MK Party, which enjoys significant support in KwaZulu-Natal, also held coalition talks with Julius Malema’s EFF on Wednesday.