Former Deputy Electoral Commission(IEC) Chairperson, Terry Tselane says it will be inevitable for coalitions to govern municipalities in South Africa following the 2021 local government elections.
His statement comes against the background of the dismal performance of the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the emergence of smaller parties.
On Wednesday morning, there are 35 hung municipalities – up from 27 councils without an outright majority winner in 2016.
LGE 2021 | It will be inevitable for coalitions to govern municipalities: Tselane
Tselane says South Africans should get used to coalitions in municipal governance because conditions are right for their existence.
“There is a need that we’ll begin to socialise with arrangements of coalitions because it is something that is going to be with us now forever. Inherently, in proportional representation system is about to have coalitions because it creates an environment in which there is power-sharing. So, we will live with these coalitions forever, for as long as the constitution says the electoral system must result, in general, proportionality,” says Tselane.
LGE 2021 | Unpacking the politics of coalition governments: IEMSA, SALGA
The number of hung councils in the Western Cape has increased from 8 in 2016 to 14 so far in the 2021 Local Government Elections, with three council results still outstanding as of 3am on Wednesday morning.https://t.co/8B6ylnQpLE pic.twitter.com/eUnzeFSBPk
— SABC News (@SABCNews) November 3, 2021
