Cape Town:The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr. Zweli Mkhize, has expressed his approval of newly published guidelines designed to assist in establishing and managing coalition councils in municipalities lacking a clear majority winner.
According to Parliament of South Africa, the Guidelines for Stable Coalitions in Local Government, released by the Department of COGTA, aim to provide municipalities with a practical tool to create functioning councils and ensure continuous service delivery during political transitions. These guidelines arrive at a pivotal moment as political parties engage in negotiations to form governing arrangements following recent local government elections.
The guidelines are particularly relevant for the approximately 138 hung councils, which constitute about 65% of the total councils, as they did not result in a majority for a single political party. These councils will need to form coalition, minority-government, or other cooperative arrangements and could benefit from the guidelines while the Coalitions Bill is under consideration by the committee.
Key elements of the guidelines include the encouragement of political parties to draft written agreements detailing shared policy priorities, decision-making processes, conduct expectations, and methods for resolving disagreements. A template is provided to aid in these negotiations. Dr. Mkhize underscored the need for transparency in these agreements to ensure accountability and noted the guidelines' role in maintaining administrative continuity and provincial support. He emphasized the importance of considering community interests during negotiations, as prolonged disputes could hinder municipal service delivery.
Dr. Mkhize stressed the necessity of fostering a culture of trust, compromise, and political integrity for effective coalition governance. He stated that the guidelines facilitate cooperation among parties while ensuring accountability to voters. The guidelines also delineate a clear separation between political and administrative roles, insisting that all appointments, procurement, and tender awards remain within the administrative domain. Dr. Mkhize welcomed this clarification, emphasizing that municipal resources should serve communities and adhere to lawful procedures. He also highlighted the role of provincial governments in promoting and supporting the implementation of these guidelines.
The Chairperson reiterated the statutory requirements for forming municipal councils, noting that coalition negotiations should adhere to these standards. He urged political parties and councillors to utilize the guidelines constructively, even if they are not legally binding.