Parliament fast-tracks coalition stability bill before 2026 Local Government Elections

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