Guidelines to strengthen coalition governance

Government is preparing guidelines for coalition negotiations and arrangements following the 2026 Local Government Elections. 

The guidelines are intended to promote stability and ensure that political disagreements do not undermine service delivery.

This is according to Government Deputy Spokesperson William Baloyi, who spoke to SAnews at the Electoral Commission of South Africa's (IEC) National Results Operations Centre (ROC) in Midrand on Friday.

Baloyi said the guidelines, which will be released through the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), will provide a framework for coalition negotiations and help prevent the instability and friction that have disrupted service delivery in some municipalities.

“As government, there will not be issues of coalitions being characterised in some cities by friction that affects service delivery. Through CoGTA, we will be releasing guidelines on coalitions so that when coalition negotiations are going on, there are guidelines that guide them,” Baloyi said.

He emphasised that political parties entering coalition arrangements must remember that their primary responsibility is to the communities that entrusted them with their votes.

“The most important part is service delivery to the people, and all parties must remember that their contract with the voters is to improve their services,” he said.

Baloyi said stable coalition arrangements are essential to keeping municipalities focused on their constitutional responsibilities and responsive to the needs of communities.

He also called on residents to remain actively involved in local government beyond election day, noting that democratic participation includes holding elected representatives accountable for their campaign promises and service delivery commitments.

Baloyi urged communities to attend public meetings convened by their elected representatives, raise concerns and receive feedback on issues affecting them.

“When they call meetings, go to those meetings and hear how far the issues that were put there have progressed.”

With voting concluded and citizens awaiting the results, Baloyi said the focus should now shift to translating the electoral mandate into improved services and greater accountability to communities. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Original report at SAnews.gov.za.