With 32 of KwaZulu-Natal's 44 municipalities heading for hung councils, political parties are preparing for coalition negotiations following the local government elections. The Electoral Commission of South Africa's results dashboard shows the IFP leading in 19 municipalities, followed by the MK Party in 17, the ANC in five, and the DA in three. The complex coalition landscape will require parties to negotiate governance arrangements in most councils.
The MK Party, which received 34% of the provincial vote, has struggled to translate its electoral support into outright majorities in most municipalities. In contrast, the IFP, with 20% of the vote, is leading in more municipalities than any other party. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the party was proud of its performance in KZN, despite losing further ground, given the political challenges it faced ahead of the elections.
Mbalula acknowledged that voters had made it clear they wanted parties to work together, but the ANC was not rushing into coalition negotiations. The party would not hesitate to occupy the opposition benches if it failed to secure coalition arrangements that served its interests. For now, the ANC is having "talks about talks" with other parties.
The IFP has established a team to lead its coalition negotiations, with president Velenkosini Hlabisa stating that the party intends to move quickly in municipalities where it failed to secure an outright majority. The IFP aims to ensure that councils are constituted without unnecessary delays.
The DA's federal executive has resolved to engage all political parties represented in hung councils as it prepares for coalition negotiations. The party's negotiating approach will be guided by its commitment to clean and accountable government, fighting corruption, improving service delivery, upholding the rule of law, and non-racialism.
The DA's objective is to establish stable and effective administrations that prioritize residents, restore accountability, and improve service delivery. The party will initiate discussions with parties that share its commitment to these principles.
The MK Party has also established a team to lead its coalition negotiations, with president Jacob Zuma announcing a seven-member team tasked with leading the party's negotiations. The teams from various parties will engage in discussions to form coalitions and establish stable administrations in the municipalities.
Key points
- The IFP is leading in 19 municipalities, while the MK Party is leading in 17.
- The ANC and DA are leading in five and three municipalities, respectively.
- Coalition negotiations are expected to be complex, with parties required to work together to establish stable administrations.
