South African political parties met recently to discuss the future of political coalitions. With the decline of the ANC, the ruling party since the end of apartheid, elections no longer guarantee a clear majority to govern. This situation is already observable at the local level, with several municipalities struggling to operate. A dialogue was therefore organized to find solutions and structure future coalitions.
Political coalitions in South Africa are often unstable, as was the case in Johannesburg with five different mayors in less than two years. This instability is well understood by Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, President of the National Assembly, who said that the circumstances force them to come together and exchange to find solutions.
At the national level, the question of coalitions could also arise, with the African National Congress (ANC) which risks losing its majority in the next general elections. However, the general secretary of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula, refuses for the moment to admit this possibility. He expresses more concern about the problems of chaos and instability created by coalitions within municipalities.
In order to regulate coalitions, a law has already been drafted and should be finalized by the end of the year. However, this initiative has angered small political parties, who fear the establishment of an electoral threshold to participate in coalitions. Some of these parties feel that this goes against the spirit of the Constitution and democracy.
It is important to emphasize that political coalitions in South Africa play a crucial role in the governance of the country. They allow parties to work together to overcome divisions and develop policies that benefit the whole population. However, they also pose challenges in terms of stability and effective governance.
In conclusion, discussions of future political coalitions in South Africa testify to the current challenges facing political parties, both locally and nationally. The search for solutions to ensure stable and effective governance is essential to guarantee the development and well-being of the country