Five smaller parties have agreed to work with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in some of the 27 hung councils countrywide, confirming that a DA-led coalition will govern Nelson Mandela Bay metro.

A beaming Mmusi Maimane led a press conference to announce that the DA had spoken to a number of political parties and agreed on coalitions with Congress of the People, the African Christian Democratic Party, Freedom Front Plus, United Democratic Movement and the Inkatha Freedom Party.

Leaders from the various parties signed the coalition agreement at the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel in Sandton on Wednesday afternoon.

Maimane said the parties had agreed to principles of clean governance and transparent procurement processes.

"This is an agreement that seeks to put people first, ahead of anyone else," the DA leader said.

Maimane again gave the assurance that there would be no purging of municipal staff.

He said the DA had tried to negotiate with the Economics Freedom Fighters, but "it's quite clear that we will never agree on some ideological issues".

He said, however, that the parties could talk about issues that required changes to the Constitution, further along the line.