The Pitfalls of Coalition Politics in South Africa's Councils

Themba Dlamini, a devoted South African and author, critiques the failures of coalition politics in Gauteng's councils, highlighting a system that ultimately disconnects voters from accountability. The challenge is not merely instability but the failure to link votes to governance, leading to an environment where political parties are unable to fulfill their promises effectively.

In Johannesburg, council meetings often devolve into disputes over personal grievances rather than concrete budgetary issues. Here, mayors come and go, with the city having seen six different mayors since the 2021 elections. The underlying problem lies in a voting system that produces hung councils, where no single party holds a clear mandate, resulting in a lack of accountability for governance.

The 2021 election produced an unprecedented 66 hung councils across South Africa, yet voters did not sign up for this chaotic outcome. Dlamini points out that Cape Town is frequently cited as a successful coalition; however, its history reveals a trend of smaller parties diminishing in influence, ultimately absorbed by the dominant Democratic Alliance (DA). This showcases how smaller parties within coalitions often find themselves invisible and unrecognized for their contributions.

In a hung council, each party operates as both a candidate and a veto player, creating an environment ripe for political gamesmanship. The struggle for visibility leads to a focus on disruption rather than cooperation, as parties vie for media attention and voter recognition. Dlamini argues that this cycle of sabotage is not a flaw in character but a response to a system that rewards disloyalty over collaboration.

The Municipal Finance Management Act stipulates that councils must approve budgets before the financial year begins, making budget votes critical. However, this creates a high-stakes environment where blocking budgets can lead to crises, garnering public attention and forcing concessions. The political landscape thus becomes a constant campaign, undermining effective governance.

While some advocate for a shift to a first-past-the-post voting system to address these issues, Dlamini challenges this notion, citing the historical context of South Africa's electoral design. Proportional representation was established in 1996 as part of the broader settlement, and eliminating it would require significant political consensus that currently seems unachievable.

Moreover, moving to a ward-based system could entrench ethnic divisions, with minority voices potentially marginalized. Dlamini emphasizes that simply changing the voting mechanism does not guarantee improved accountability, as demonstrated by the performance of majority councils in various municipalities.

The solution, he argues, lies not in altering the electoral system but in reforming the executive branch of governance to align with voter expectations. By ensuring that voters can hold accountable the leaders they elect, the potential for effective governance may be restored.

Source: www.dailymaverick.co.za