---
title: "Build your own coalition in Joburg, eThekwini, Tshwane and Cape Town"
description: "In most of South Africa’s metros no party is expected to win a majority in the 4 November elections. Here, you can build your own coalition in four metros, based on different polls, to see how different parties could build a majority."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026"
author: "Daily Maverick"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/dailymaverick/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-18-build-your-own-coalition-in-joburg-ethekwini-tshwane-and-cape-town/"
published: "2026-10-18T14:49:05"
updated: "2026-10-18T14:49:10"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 64
---

# Build your own coalition in Joburg, eThekwini, Tshwane and Cape Town

> In most of South Africa’s metros no party is expected to win a majority in the 4 November elections. Here, you can build your own coalition in four metros, based on different polls, to see how different parties could build a majority.

By Daily Maverick · Published 18 October 2026, 16:49 SAST · Updated 18 October 2026, 16:49 SAST

## Key points
- Most major metros are heading for coalition government after the 4 November local elections.
- Party support is fragmented, leaving Johannesburg, eThekwini and Tshwane especially open to complex post-election deals.
- Use our interactive tools to test which parties could combine to reach a governing majority in each metro.
- Build your own coalition in Johannesburg, eThekwini, Tshwane and Cape Town — and see who holds the balance of power.

## Content

[Media: "Who can build a coalition in Johannesburg?"](https://bernard-lgtm.github.io/coalition/johannesburg.html)

![By-elections-17 June 2026](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/kdI32PGp2ZzqgfXRJCLtbkewfFQ=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2986128.jpg)

*IEC officials prepare a voting station at a church in Alexandra for local elections in Johannesburg on 18 May 2011. (Photo: EPA / Kim Ludbrook)*

[Media: "Who can build a coalition in eThekwini?"](https://bernard-lgtm.github.io/coalition/ethekwini.html)

![The election results screen at the Independent Electoral Commission's Results Operation Centre in Pretoria on Tuesday, 2 November 2021. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/-1R9cnkQpOiBDZDECuR_5TVMD4A=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/LGE-ROC-General-Pix-24.jpg)

*The results screen during the 2021 local government elections. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)*

[Media: "Who can build a coalition in Tshwane?"](https://bernard-lgtm.github.io/coalition/tshwane.html)

![Sarietha Engelbrecht (39) an election observer registered with the Ground Work Collective,  French School voting station in Sea Point, Cape Town on 29 May 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/4TY7lKsClJkTQmuGBkASGdRt_L0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Tamsin-election-observers-04.jpg)

*An election observer registered with the Ground Work Collective at the French School voting station in Sea Point, Cape Town, on 29 May 2024. (Photo: Shelley Christians)*

[Media: "Who can build a coalition in Cape Town?"](https://bernard-lgtm.github.io/coalition/cape-town.html)