CoGTA publishes new guidelines to make municipalities 'coalition resilient'
Hlabisa said the guidelines were intended to help municipalities and political parties to navigate the current era of coalitions responsibly as they prepare to hold the first council meetings to elect leaders.
Babalo Ndenze
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Velenkosini Hlabisa. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa published new guidelines to help municipalities become more “coalition-resilient”.
Hlabisa said the guidelines were intended to help municipalities and political parties to navigate the current era of coalitions responsibly as they prepare to hold the first council meetings to elect leaders.
The guidelines also encourage coalition partners to conclude written agreements that clearly outline their shared policy priorities.
The CoGTA department said 138 metropolitan and local municipalities, representing about 65% of councils, did not produce an outright majority win.
It said this meant they would require a coalition, a minority government, or other cooperative governing arrangements.
The guidelines also provide a “template coalition agreement” that political parties can adapt to their respective circumstances.
Ministry spokesperson Pearl Maseko-Binqose said: “The guidelines provide practical guidance to political parties and municipalities on managing coalition arrangements, resolving disputes and ensuring political stability.”
The guidelines also recommend that every municipal council should revisit its rules and consider whether they can be amended to avoid the abuse of motions of no-confidence.
The framework also states that coalition agreements must not interfere with decisions that legislation assigns to municipal councils.