The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has laid down conditions for supporting a coalition government in Johannesburg, with its mayoral candidate, Vuyo Zungula, stating that a written agreement on financial management, service delivery, and a clear five-year programme of action must be in place. Zungula emphasized that the party will not commit to supporting a coalition without a clear plan for addressing the city's problems. This stance comes as the ATM positions itself for a potentially hung Johannesburg council after the November 4 local government elections.
Zungula cited the party's previous experience in coalition governments, including its participation in Joburg's coalition administration, where an ATM representative served as a member of the mayoral committee for about 16 months. He also mentioned the party's experience in Mogale City, where ATM councillor Danny Molefi Thupane became the municipality's mayor in April 2023. These experiences have taught the ATM the importance of written agreements in ensuring accountability and continuity in government.
The ATM's proposed conditions for Johannesburg include improving the city's financial management, strengthening its institutional capacity, addressing the non-compliance of spaza shops, and tackling hijacked buildings. Zungula stressed that financial management must be prioritized to address the underlying problems contributing to the city's governance and service delivery challenges. A coalition agreement, he said, must also contain a programme of action setting out what the incoming administration intends to achieve during its five-year term.
For residents, Zungula said the immediate priority is getting the basics right, including reliable water and electricity supply, functioning streetlights, maintained roads, and improved safety. He noted that residents are prepared to wait for more complex problems to be resolved if the city can demonstrate that it is addressing essential services and delivering on its commitments. The ATM's position comes as smaller parties prepare to negotiate their influence in councils where larger parties fall short of a majority.
Zungula's Johannesburg candidacy represents a shift from his high-profile parliamentary role to a direct contest for executive power in one of the country's most politically contested metros. He has been a prominent voice in parliamentary efforts to hold President Cyril Ramaphosa accountable over the Phala Phala farm scandal. The ATM's decision to field Zungula in Johannesburg followed the party's candidate selection process, which involved consultations with community structures and other local formations.
Rather than focusing on which party it might support after the election, Zungula said the ATM is concentrating on what it believes a future administration needs to do differently. The party's final position on coalition negotiations will be determined after the election, when the results establish the balance of power in the council. Zungula emphasized that the ATM is agitating at a policy level, seeking to ensure that the city does things differently so that residents do not continue to suffer.
The ATM secured about 0.62% of the total votes across all ballots nationally in the 2021 local government elections. Despite its relatively small electoral support, the party has participated in coalition arrangements that have given it opportunities to hold executive positions in municipalities. As the party prepares for potential coalition negotiations, it is clear that Zungula's conditions will be a crucial factor in determining the future of Johannesburg's government.
Key points
- ATM mayoral candidate Vuyo Zungula requires a written agreement on financial management, service delivery, and a five-year programme of action for coalition support.
- The party's conditions for Johannesburg include improving financial management, strengthening institutional capacity, and addressing non-compliance of spaza shops and hijacked buildings.
- Zungula's focus is on getting the city's basics right, including reliable water and electricity supply, functioning streetlights, maintained roads, and improved safety.
