Interview| Johannesburg’s first woman mayor speaks on effective coalitions and fighting corruption

SOUTH Africa’s nationwide local government elections held on 1 November 2021 saw a continuing trend of no outright winners in some key cities, resulting in coalition governments. This is a relatively new phenomenon in South Africa, resulting from the decline in support for the African National Congress, which has dominated politics since democracy in 1994. The coalition governments have been marred by volatility and instability, owing to posturing and power plays. Research specialist Joleen Steyn Kotze talks to Mpho Phalatse, from the opposition Democratic Alliance, the first woman to be elected the mayor of the economic powerhouse of Johannnesburg.

Local government councils are often political theatres. How do you manage this?

Mpho Phalatse: Multi-party governance requires a high level of political maturity and a full understanding of our role in society. It can be brought into focus through the Kenyan proverb, when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers. Meaning that our political disagreements leave communities without services such as healthcare, safety, security, housing as