Instability within coalitions makes the state unworkable and negatively affects service delivery, requiring the government to develop a coalitions framework that will be used by political parties to structure stable coalitions, says deputy president Paul Mashatile.
This is as multiple polls estimate the ANC’s support in the 2024 national and provincial elections is likely to decline further, compelling it to form coalitions with opposition parties.
The Gauteng metros of Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni were governed by a DA-led multiparty coalition after the ANC’s support declined below 50% in the November 2021 municipal elections for the first time since 1994.
The ANC was effectively voted out of power in the metros after years of complaints from residents over delivery of basic services, corruption, malfeasance and maladministration.
The coalition governments in metros since 2021 have been dogged by instability with frequent changes of mayors and mayoral committee members due to motions of no confidence put forward by competing political parties.
To rectify the instability, Mashatile proposes the party that has won the most votes should be allowed to lead the coalition, and executive positions should be allocated proportionally to the votes obtained by coalition partners.
“A coalition government should be bound together by a commitment to good governance, with no tolerance for corruption,” Mashatile says.
The proposals are contained in a concept note circulated to all political parties invited to attend the government’s two-day national dialogue on coalitions.
The purpose of the dialogue, which begins on Friday, is to develop a national framework for the formation and governance of coalition governments across all spheres of government and to form the basis of legislation.
The instability in municipalities has been going on since the 2016 and 2021 local government elections, which resulted in the emergence of a number of hung councils, with no majority political party. By May there were 81 hung councils countrywide, he says.
“It is likely that this may ultimately affect national and provincial government,” Mashatile says.
“With SA due to hold general elections in 2024, it is opportune to create space for a national dialogue on developing a framework for coalition governments, while we focus on dealing with the immediate challenges in local government.”
The dialogue will also consider including independent candidates in coalition agreements in light of the amended Electoral Act, which provides for the inclusion and nomination of independent candidates to contest elections in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures.
“The national dialogue should also consider the possibility of independent candidates forming a coalition and registering as a party before elections,” the document reads.
The ANC, which has finalised its criteria for suitable candidates to stand as MPs or members of provincial legislatures, says that despite the development of the framework it is working towards obtaining an outright majority in next year’s elections.
DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube says: “Parliament, as the institution tasked with lawmaking, cannot sit back and not prepare the groundwork for this possibility. We must ensure that the instability we have seen at a local level is not replicated at a provincial and national level. Ultimately coalition governments must serve the people and not [the] narrow political [interests] of the connected few.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.