Pray the News

Abstract

FF+ leader Corné Mulder expects no party to win an outright majority in Nelson Mandela Bay after the November 4 elections and has urged larger parties to respect the partners they may need to govern. Speaking at a breakfast at the Port Elizabeth Riding Club in Lorraine on Friday, Mulder called for a stable coalition and rejected suggestions that a vote for the FF+ would be wasted.

“I do not think any one party is going to get the majority on its own. So most likely we are going to have a coalition. I hope that we have a stable coalition. And that is in the hands of the electorate.”

Mulder said parties that attracted the most votes but fell short of a majority needed to recognise their dependence on others. “And what I cannot understand is that the party that gets the biggest support, or the most support, but is not able to govern on its own, should be the most humble of all, because if you cannot get other parties to co-operate and govern with you, you have the most to lose.”

He said his experience in coalition negotiations had shown how difficult it could be to bring competing leaders and interests together. Mulder said he had helped put coalitions together in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay, visiting the Bay several times during those efforts. He wanted the next administration to avoid arrangements dependent on unreliable partners.

“I hope we can get a coalition of stable parties that can come together and form a stable government here.”

More Background

With the 4 November 2026 elections approaching, recent polling shows the DA and ANC again closely matched (around 37% each). Smaller parties are once more expected to play kingmaker roles. This history of short-lived, fragile coalitions is the backdrop against which FF+ leader Corné Mulder and others are calling for more stable, principle-based governing arrangements after the vote.

Election Prayer Guidelines

After the elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) declares the results. The names of the 120 elected candidates for Nelson Mandela Bay are declared and made public. The newly elected council, which consists of the 120 candidates, must hold its first (inaugural) meeting within 14 days after the election results are declared. At this meeting, the key office-bearers are elected. Because the council in Nelson Mandela Bay is often hung (no single party has 61+ seats), the election of the Mayor, Speaker and other positions is the result of coalition negotiations. Parties form voting blocs to secure the positions. All these office-bearers must be sitting councillors. The negotiations between parties during these 14 days are crucial for the future stability of the council.

Election Day and Counting Procedure

Focus: Free, fair, peaceful elections; accurate results; protection of the democratic process; calm atmosphere.

“He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings…” (Daniel 2:21)

Prayer pointers

• Thank God for the privilege of democratic elections and for the officials of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), voting officers, party agents, and security forces involved in the process.
• Pray for peaceful voting stations and protection against intimidation, violence, or disruptions, so that every eligible voter can cast their ballot freely.
• Ask the Lord to ensure accuracy, integrity, and transparency in the counting and verification process, so that the declared results genuinely reflect the will of the people.
• Pray that the outcome, regardless of what it may be, is received with maturity and that no party or individual resorts to unrest or false accusations.
• Intercede for the newly elected councillors, asking God to prepare their hearts for the responsibilities that lie ahead.

The Immediate Post-Results Period and Coalition Negotiations

Focus: Wisdom, unity, humility, integrity, and the common good during the intense bargaining window.

“When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” (Proverbs 29:2)

Prayer pointers

• Pray that the leaders and negotiators of the parties will be filled with supernatural wisdom and restraint, prioritising the common good over self-interest and the pursuit of power.
• Ask God to break down barriers of distrust, bitterness, and past grievances so that genuine cooperation can take place.
• Intercede for a spirit of humility, ensuring that larger parties do not dominate, and that smaller parties will not hold the city hostage.
• Pray that any written coalition agreement will prioritise essential needs, such as water, electricity, sanitation, housing, financial recovery, and support for the vulnerable, above positions and patronage.
• Ask the Lord to expose and restrain any corrupt or opportunistic motives, and to raise up leaders who fear Him more than they fear political loss.

First Meeting of the Newly Elected Council within the 14-day deadline

Focus: Orderly, peaceful, and Spirit-guided election of the Speaker and Executive Mayor; protection of the meeting; right choices.

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1)

Prayer pointers

• Pray for the municipal manager or designated official who will convene and initially preside over the meeting, asking for clarity, courage, and impartiality.
• Request that God cover the entire first council meeting with His peace, restraining any disruptions, walkouts, violence, or procedural chaos.
• Intercede specifically for the election of the Speaker and the Executive Mayor, praying that the councillors vote wisely and with a servant-hearted mindset, rather than solely based on factional interests.
• Pray that the person chosen as Executive Mayor will feel a genuine calling and anointing to serve the entire city, rather than just their political base.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to guide the appointment of Mayoral Committee members, ensuring that competence and integrity take precedence over loyalty and patronage.

Formation and Commencement of the New Government

Focus: Stable, righteous, and effective governance; lasting unity; service delivery that restores dignity; protection from early collapse.

“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city… Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

Prayer points

• We thank God for the formation of the new administration and commit the Executive Mayor, Deputy Mayor (if applicable), Mayoral Committee, and the entire council into His hands.
• We pray for genuine unity that lasts beyond the initial months, asking that all partners honour their agreements and resolve disputes without causing the government to falter.
• We seek the Lord’s guidance for the new leadership, asking for a clear vision and measurable targets in areas such as reducing water losses, ensuring electricity reliability, improving sanitation, addressing housing needs, and achieving financial recovery.
• We intercede for the professionalisation and protection of the municipal administration, that qualified officials will be appointed and sheltered from political interference.
• We pray that residents, especially the poor and vulnerable, will soon see tangible improvements in services, and that public trust will begin to be restored.
• Finally, we ask God to establish lasting peace and stability, allowing the city to transition from crisis mode into effective and constructive governance.

Today’s Scripture Chest

• Daniel 2:21 – seasons
• Proverbs 21:1 – King’s heart
• Proverbs 29:2 – times
• Jeremiah 29:7 – prosperity