ANC loses outright majority in Makana, setting stage for coalition talks
The party secured just 10 of the municipality's 25 council seats, falling short of the 13 needed to govern alone and paving the way for coalition negotiations.
Ntuthuzelo Nene
Makhanda residents wait in line outside the Bantu Stephen Biko Building. Photo: Ntuthuzelo Nene
Ntuthuzelo Nene
Makana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape could soon have a new administration after the ANC lost its outright majority in the municipal elections.
Preliminary figures show that the party secured just 10 of the municipality's 25 council seats, falling short of the 13 needed to govern alone and paving the way for coalition negotiations.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) came in second with six seats, while newcomer Makana United Civic Movement (MUCM) secured four seats.
The balance of political power in Makana has shifted significantly, with no single party securing enough seats to govern the municipality independently.
As parties prepare to negotiate a new administration, residents are hoping the incoming leadership will prioritise long-standing service delivery challenges, particularly access to clean and reliable water, proper sanitation, and the maintenance of critical infrastructure.
Makhanda resident Kwanda Zenani said addressing the municipality's infrastructure problems and water quality must be among the new administration's top priorities.
"I hope they can focus on that and the cleanliness of the water," Zenani said.
"There is a problem with Makana's infrastructure. So I wish those that will be coming in could make the changes wanted by the residents of Makana."
The election results have set the stage for potentially challenging coalition negotiations in a municipality that has long grappled with financial mismanagement, institutional instability, and persistent service delivery failures.