The clock is ticking for political parties to find each other on possible coalitions to govern about 70 hung municipalities around the country.
By November 23 all municipal councils should be constituted as required by the constitution. All councils should be fully constituted 14 business days after the official local government election result is announced. If any of the 278 municipalities around the country do not constitute a council in the stipulated time, that municipality opens the door to being placed under provincial administration pending a rerun of the vote.
Over the past week politicians have been engaged in cursory negotiations, attempting to find each other on possible coalitions. Parties have drawn lines in the sand regarding who they can and will negotiate with, but much will depend on local dynamics in the various municipalities. Many surprises could be in store.
Political heavyweights spent last week applying their minds to what they will demand and their non-negotiables, as well as to what they can offer to potential partners.
Also this week, the country emerges from weeks of load-shedding by power utility Eskom. SA has faced the worst load-shedding in recent years over the past month with electricity cuts for as much as six hours a day in some metropoles.
Business is still counting the costs of a loss of generation capacity. Already the mining industry, which is bringing in substantial tax revenue courtesy of a commodities boom, says power cuts are hurting it and the wider economy. Minerals Council SA chief economist Henk Langenhoven said this week that the estimated value of a week’s mineral production that could be disrupted by Eskom power cuts is as much as R8bn.
This week the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2021) will take place in Durban. It is Africa’s premier trade and investment event and its attractions will include more than 1,000 exhibitors from across the continent showcasing their goods and services.
The seven-day exhibition will include a packed programme of conference sessions featuring leading African and international thought leaders and experts. President Cyril Ramaphosa will open the gathering on Monday.
Parliament will also be busy this week. Economic ministers will face a series of questions about the state of the economy as unemployment and inequality continue to rise. In light of the July unrest, the National Assembly will have a second reading debate on special appropriations for the funding of the SA Special Risk Insurance Association (Sasria). It provides risk insurance to government institutions such as municipalities, hospitals and schools and to private organisations and individuals that own assets in SA.
There will also be a debate in the National Council of Provinces on Wednesday on growing concern about school dropouts and what can be done to ensure the youth are encouraged to remain in school until completing matric. Deputy president David Mabuza will close the week in the National Assembly by fulfilling his obligation to answer questions from MPs once a quarter.
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