From policy to practice: strengthening local South African government coalitions through legislation ahead of the 2026 elections

Abstract

Coalition governments have become a common feature within South Africa’s political landscape, especially at the local government level. However, the reality is that these coalition governments operate in a legal vacuum, as there is no legislation adopted to guide them. This has contributed to unstable governments hampered by internal strife and disputes, and often resulting in deteriorating service delivery in local communities. While legislation can regulate and guide political processes, it alone cannot ensure political stability in local government. Legislation should be complemented by the willingness of councilors and political parties to respect and abide by the legislation. This policy and practice brief (PPB) contributes to ongoing debates on coalition governments in South Africa by critically examining the proposed Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill of 2024 (Coalition Bill). It assesses the strengths, weaknesses, and implications of the Bill’s key provisions within a broader context of the evolving legislative framework on coalitions.