EDITORIAL: Rein in political power plays

As we approach the 2026 local government elections, it is clear that legislation aimed at stabilising local government is urgently needed. 

Political parties have shown that they cannot be trusted to place the interests of residents first — a reality made glaringly obvious by the mayoral musical chairs, particularly in the country’s metros since the 2016 local government election. 

Just this Wednesday, the City Of Tshwane saw its third mayor in three years. ActionSA pulled out of the governing coalition with the DA, leading to the election of Nasiphi Moya as mayor with the support of the ANC and the EFF. This move likely means that the EFF will be brought in to serve on the Tshwane mayoral committee for the first time. 

Moya’s election followed the collapse of talks between the ANC and the DA to stabilise hung metros, a provision contained in the statement of intent both parties signed as part of the formation of the government of national unity. 

The ANC in Gauteng, led by its chair Panyaza Lesufi and secretary TK Nciza, moved to regain control of the province’s three metros in the wake of their devastating performance in the May 29 polls. The ANC obtained only 35% of the vote in the province, down from 51% in 2019. 

The ANC’s strategy began in Ekurhuleni, where it removed AIC mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana, replacing him with ANC mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, who was elected unopposed in the council. The EFF’s Nkululeko Dunga was replaced by former ANC chief whip Jongizizwe Dlabathi as finance MMC. Xhakaza is Ekurhuleni’s third mayor since 2021. 

Lesufi and Nciza then struck a deal with ActionSA to stabilise the City of Johannesburg by removing the previously ANC-sponsored mayor, Al Jama-ah’s Kabelo Gwamanda. ANC regional chair Dada Morero replaced Gwamanda. This marks Morero’s second stint as mayor since 2021, with the DA’s Mpho Phalatse holding the post twice since the last election, alongside two additional mayors from Al Jama-ah. Morero’s election marks the sixth mayoral shift since 2021 in Johannesburg.

The ANC then turned to Tshwane, where it brought a successful motion of no confidence in DA mayor Cilliers Brink. Bucking the ANC national framework for coalitions which says the largest party should take the mayoral seat, it agreed to allow ActionSA to take up the post in 11th-hour talks on Tuesday. 

After Brink’s removal, the ANC indicated that it wanted to bring in one of its own to lead Tshwane. Close Lesufi ally Kgosi Maepa was considered the front-runner for the post. However, ActionSA warned that this went against the spirit of co-operation in the City of Johannesburg. It warned that it would withdraw support for Morero’s administration should the ANC put up its own candidate for the post. Moya is the fourth Tshwane mayor since 2021. 

These musical chairs are not just a reflection of power struggles among political parties, they are a stark reminder of the fragility of coalition politics and expose legislative gaps that disrupt continuity, hamper the delivery of services and ultimately erode public trust in the political system.

The Municipal Structures Amendment Bill of 2023, dubbed the “Coalitions Bill”, introduced shortly before the May 29 election, aims to stabilise local government, the dismal performance of which has angered both business leaders and ordinary people.   

It seeks to make coalition agreements binding, sets a threshold for parties represented in the council at 1% and requires hung municipalities to shift from a mayoral executive system to a collective executive system, where all parties in the council are proportionally represented in the decision-making structures of the municipality. In this scenario, the entire executive of a council is not necessarily affected by the removal of a mayor. The bill also seeks to limit the circumstances under which mayors can be removed through motions of no confidence. 

While there has been mixed reaction to the proposed amendments, with NGOs arguing that the 1% threshold limited democratic rights, it is crucial to ensure that by the next local election, there is legislation to deepen stability in coalitions at the local government level. The legislation is not perfect, but it marks a start and should be a focus of the current administration. It is now in its early stages after the deadline for public comment ended in August, and without an urgent push from the co-operative government department and parliament can it be enforceable in time for the local government elections in 2026? 

Stabilising the local government is a bit like building a house. One needs a solid foundation to ensure the structure stands firm against the storms of political change. The “Coalitions Bill” may not be the perfect blueprint, but it is a start towards constructing a more stable and reliable local government.