JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — As South Africa braces for hotly contested local government elections, SALGA President Bheke Stofile has issued a stark warning: instability within local government coalitions is directly causing the collapse of essential municipal service delivery. Speaking on the urgent need for structured coalition management, Stofile emphasized that political parties must prioritize the public interest over partisan agendas to prevent systemic governance failures.
Highlighting recent friction, including clashes between the ANC and ActionSA in municipalities, Stofile noted that when elected leaders fail to maintain stability, communities suffer the most. He urged political factions to engage in honest dialogue, reminding them that voters demand leadership capable of rising above political differences to positively impact their daily lives.
To combat this volatility, SALGA officially supports recent executive initiatives aimed at formalizing coalition management. Stofile revealed that advanced processes are already underway within the national cabinet and parliament to establish binding principles for coalition governments. A core requirement of these emerging frameworks is that any agreement signed by coalition partners must explicitly prioritize community service delivery, reflecting the democratic mandate given by the public at the ballot box.
When challenged on whether political parties can realistically prioritize public needs over their own entrenched agendas, Stofile described the expectation as a “subjective matter.” However, he firmly stated that candidates entering the electoral fray must recognize their legal and ethical obligation to serve. Citing internal SALGA studies, he stressed that contesting parties must internalize their role as public servants, placing citizen welfare at the center of their governance rather than pursuing selfish, politically aligned views.
Addressing the immediate risks of the current transition period, Stofile issued strict guidance to outgoing member municipalities. He advised them to adhere strictly to the law: while they remain the acting council until the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officially establishes and announces the new administration, they are legally prohibited from making long-term commitments or engaging in “malicious recruitment” that would unfairly bind the incoming council.
Finally, the SALGA President called on all political parties to actively assist current councils in maintaining uninterrupted service delivery during this interim phase. He also urged collaboration with state safety and protection instruments to safeguard the lives of both sitting councilors and councilors-elect, ensuring the electoral transition remains free from threats or intimidation.
