The uMkhonto Wesizwe party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, and the South African Communist Party have joined forces to create the Council of the Left, a bloc designed to coordinate political strategy in municipal governments. According to Daily Maverick, the group represents approximately 20% of the total municipal vote share. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg on Thursday, 12 November, alongside the African Congress for Transformation and the Afrika Mayibuye Movement.

The newly formed coalition outlined a programme focused on reversing the privatisation of national assets and rebuilding municipalities with an emphasis on land reform, housing, and affordable utilities. A central pillar of their agenda is the removal of what they term "reactionary forces" from national unity governments. This specifically targets the Democratic Alliance and the Freedom Front Plus. The parties argue that local government should address practical service delivery issues rather than serve as a venue for ideological contestation.

Despite forming this unified front, individual member parties will continue separate coalition negotiations. MK party national negotiator Dali Mpofu confirmed that the MK party had been approached by the DA for talks, a move that contradicts earlier ideological stances. Mpofu stated that while local governance requires pragmatic cooperation, their political contradictions with the DA remain. He noted that the bloc hopes to negotiate as a unified group in future elections based on lessons learned during these municipal talks.

The Council of the Left has extended an invitation to the African National Congress to join their programme, but support is strictly conditional. Thato Wa Magogodi of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement stated that the ANC must agree to their minimum programme and step out of its relationship with the DA and Freedom Front Plus. This stance comes as the ANC’s vote share has declined to 30.75%, leaving it in second or third place in key metros like Johannesburg and Tshwane, increasing its reliance on coalition partners.

EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini attributed the fragmentation of the black vote to external funding. He alleged that new political entities are being sponsored to dilute the influence of established left-wing parties. "Some of them [that] are sponsored, they’ve got black faces," Dlamini said, according to Daily Maverick. The Council plans to finalize its next strategic steps only after municipal councils are fully constituted.