DA keeps mayoral options open as coalition talks loom
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has not ruled out taking the mayoral positions in municipalities where it has emerged as the largest party, including Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay and Ekurhuleni, as negotiations over the formation of new local governments approach. With 76% of the votes counted by Friday morning, the ANC stood at 31.88% nationally, the DA at 24.27% and uMkhonto weSizwe at 9.26%. The party has previously advocated proportional power-sharing in municipalities governed through coalitions with the ANC. However, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis declined to say whether it would continue to insist on this arrangement.
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