In Conversation With Goodenough Mashego - political analyst
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South Africa’s local government landscape is rapidly evolving. Since the 2021 municipal elections, many municipalities have ended up with hung councils — where no single party wins an outright majority — making coalitions a necessity rather than the exception. Analysts expect this trend to continue into the 2026 local government elections, with more fragmented council outcomes predicted.
To address growing instability in coalition councils, the African National Congress (ANC) has said it wants the Coalitions Bill — formally known as the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill — passed before the upcoming municipal elections. The bill has been developed by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and aims to provide clear rules and legal frameworks for how coalitions should be formed, managed and sustained at the local government level.
Coalitions have been a feature of local government since dominant party majorities declined, but the lack of formalised rules has often led to instability, council leadership disputes, and service delivery interruptions. The proposed bill seeks to institutionalise coalition governance, including making coalition agreements legally binding, introducing thresholds for participation, and adjusting timelines for council formation following elections.
The ANC’s push to have the bill finalised before the 2026 elections reflects concerns about ensuring that coalitions, which are widely expected, operate with clarity, accountability and stability. But it also raises questions about how different parties will engage with and negotiate future coalitions — especially smaller parties who may hold “kingmaker” positions in hung councils.
Today we speak with political analyst Goodenough Mashego to unpack what the Coalitions Bill means, how it could reshape local governance, and whether it might succeed in stabilising municipalities ahead of the elections.
To address growing instability in coalition councils, the African National Congress (ANC) has said it wants the Coalitions Bill — formally known as the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill — passed before the upcoming municipal elections. The bill has been developed by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and aims to provide clear rules and legal frameworks for how coalitions should be formed, managed and sustained at the local government level.
Coalitions have been a feature of local government since dominant party majorities declined, but the lack of formalised rules has often led to instability, council leadership disputes, and service delivery interruptions. The proposed bill seeks to institutionalise coalition governance, including making coalition agreements legally binding, introducing thresholds for participation, and adjusting timelines for council formation following elections.
The ANC’s push to have the bill finalised before the 2026 elections reflects concerns about ensuring that coalitions, which are widely expected, operate with clarity, accountability and stability. But it also raises questions about how different parties will engage with and negotiate future coalitions — especially smaller parties who may hold “kingmaker” positions in hung councils.
Today we speak with political analyst Goodenough Mashego to unpack what the Coalitions Bill means, how it could reshape local governance, and whether it might succeed in stabilising municipalities ahead of the elections.
