JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As the City of Johannesburg navigates the crucial stage of post-election negotiations, the Al Jama-ah coalition strategy has taken a definitive pivot. Rather than seeking executive power or kingmaker status, the party is positioning itself to serve as a robust opposition, prioritizing grassroots ward service over broader coalition arrangements.
During a recent broadcast interview, Al Jama-ah president Ganief Hendricks detailed the party’s objectives following the 2026 local government elections. Al Jama-ah secured three seats in the City of Johannesburg, maintaining its electoral presence by winning two ward councillor positions in Lenasia and one proportional representation (PR) seat to service the rest of the city.
This current approach marks a significant shift from the previous term, where Al Jama-ah acted as the kingmaker in the Johannesburg Council. During that administration, the party successfully kept a 10-party coalition stable for 18 months, and its members, including Thapelo Amad and Kabelo Gwamanda, served as mayors at various points.
Despite this past executive experience, Hendricks emphasized that the party has learned from its previous 18-month tenure and is intentionally stepping back from the “game of coalitions.”
“Our focus is more on being a strong opposition after the lessons we learned during our 18-month term,” Hendricks explained. He noted that participating in a coalition hampers the party’s pathway to becoming a true alternative to mainstream political parties. “We are not in the game of coalitions because we want to be an alternative party in 2029.”
Instead of negotiating for executive roles, Al Jama-ah’s immediate focus is on localized service delivery. Hendricks highlighted the party’s intention to leverage its past success in managing a single ward to now serve the residents of Ward 9 and Ward 10 in Lenasia. The party aims to replicate its previous service levels in these adjacent areas and develop them into “smart wards,” directly responding to the confidence shown by local voters.
When pressed on whether leading parties in the city—specifically ActionSA, the ANC, and the Democratic Alliance—had reached out to Al Jama-ah for coalition conversations since the election results were finalized, the interview encountered technical difficulties.
Experiencing audio issues and unable to clearly hear the questions, Hendricks deflected from the broader coalition inquiries to reiterate the party’s immediate priorities. He maintained that their primary focus remains strictly on delivering services to their two secured wards rather than pursuing a larger role in the city’s coalition government. Due to the ongoing technical faults, the interview was concluded shortly after.
As Johannesburg’s political landscape continues to reconfigure, Al Jama-ah’s decision to forgo executive coalition talks in favor of building a strong, localized opposition base signals a calculated long-term play for the 2029 elections.
