Over 100 hung councils, 14 days: A negotiator’s rulebook for coalitions that last
Following South Africa’s society-shifting 4 November 2026 local elections, and as political parties start negotiations to establish municipal coalitions across the country, political maturity, putting the interests of the citizens first rather than party, ideological or patronage considerations, and using the Constitution as a guide, will be fundamental in securing successful negotiations that…
In South Africa, more than 100 "hung councils" emerged after the recent local elections, with no single political party securing a majority in many municipalities. These councils now face the daunting task of negotiating coalitions, a process that requires political parties to set aside their personal egos and focus on the best interests of the voters.
Associate Professor William Gumede, an expert in South African politics, emphasizes the importance of political maturity, putting citizen welfare first, and adhering to the Constitution when negotiating these coalitions.
One of the primary reasons for past municipal election failures is that party leaders often prioritize securing patronage for themselves and their parties over the broader public good. To navigate this complex process, parties must first establish clear boundaries on whom they would not partner with in a coalition, based on principles such as opposition to the Constitution, advocating violence, racial hatred, corruption, criminal activities, or ideological extremism.
During the negotiation process, parties should consider informal discussions with key leaders of potential coalition partners to explore the possibility of working together. Once formal negotiations commence, parties must agree on a set of basic terms of engagement, including respect for one another, civility, decorum, and discretion. Core common policies should also be agreed upon, to ensure a unified coalition platform that can be presented to constituents.
The allocation of key positions within the municipality, such as mayor, speaker, finance, infrastructure, and municipal public accounts committees, is crucial. Ideally, the largest party should appoint the mayor, with positions then allocated based on the strength of each party and the competence of its representatives. While not all parties may require formal government positions, the coalition agreement should clearly outline which parties will hold specific roles.
In situations where personal animosities between local leaders make negotiations difficult, parties may opt to bring in national leaders or independent outsiders to facilitate the coalition-building process. This approach was successfully employed in previous negotiations, such as the 2013 political talks between King Mswati III of Eswatini and opposition groups, where an impartial outsider was deemed best suited to mediate.
Conflict resolution mechanisms are also essential in coalition negotiations. The traditional clearing-house structure, headed by the Deputy President from the largest party, often leads to failures due to political bias. An alternative approach could involve appointing a neutral individual from the smallest party or an independent outsider to oversee the conflict resolution process. This would ensure a more credible and impartial handling of disputes within the coalition.
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