By Thapelo Molefe
In a decisive move to bring order to South Africa’s often chaotic coalition governments at the municipal level, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has resolved to integrate two legislative proposals aimed at stabilising local government coalitions.
This decision marks a crucial step toward preventing political instability, which has plagued municipalities across the country, hampering service delivery and effective governance.
The committee’s discussion centered on two competing bills.
A Private Member’s Bill, the Local Government: Municipal Structures Second Amendment Bill, proposed by Democratic Alliance MP George Michalakis, and the Department of COGTA’s Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill.
Both seek to introduce legal frameworks to ensure that coalition governments function effectively, preventing the frequent collapse of municipal councils due to no-confidence motions and political maneuvering.
Presenting his bill, Michalakis emphasised that coalition governance is set to become “the new norm” following the 2026 Local Government Elections, and urgent legislative intervention is necessary.
“Currently, many local government coalitions are highly unstable and plagued by frequent motions of no confidence, impacting their capacity to ensure stable, consistent, and quality service delivery to residents,” Michalakis told the committee this week.
He argued that smaller parties often use these motions as a political weapon, rather than as a means of holding government accountable.
Without proper legislation, he warned, this trend will persist, leaving municipalities in turmoil.
The committee acknowledged the urgency of passing legislation before the next elections but expressed concern that having two parallel bills addressing the same issues could cause delays and confusion.
Committee Chairperson Zweli Mkhize underscored the need for coherence and expediency.
“Presenting two similar bills separately for public comment within a short space of time would be procedurally inefficient and impractical,” he stated.
To streamline the process, the committee directed Michalakis to engage with the Minister of COGTA within a month to explore ways to integrate the proposals into a single bill.
The Minister will then brief the committee on the department’s bill, how it incorporates the Private Member’s Bill’s proposals, and provide a concrete timeline for its introduction to Parliament.
With the 2026 elections looming, Parliament is under pressure to finalise and implement reforms that will bring stability to municipal coalitions.
The committee made it clear that unnecessary procedural delays will not be tolerated, emphasising that public and parliamentary interests must take precedence over bureaucratic red tape.
INSIDE METROS