KIMBERLEY, Northern Cape — As Northern Cape coalition negotiations intensify across 17 hung municipalities, provincial leadership is calling on political parties to prioritize service delivery over personal ambition. Following recent government elections that left key councils without an outright winner, the push for political maturity has become the central focus for forming stable local governments.
Lebogang Motlhaping, the Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance (CoGHSTA), emphasized the need to put residents first. He noted that his department is collaborating with SALA and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to ensure the successful constitution of the councils. Motlhaping explained that they are currently awaiting the official declaration in the government gazette. Once published, the first council sittings will take place within 14 days, allowing municipalities to be properly constituted so that critical work can commence.
The political limbo currently affects several key councils, specifically those in Sol Plaatje, Dawid Kruiper, Siyancuma, and Nama Khoi. With the clock ticking to constitute these councils, the MEC’s plea for political maturity highlights the urgency of the situation.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has confirmed it is already at the negotiating table but has drawn a strict boundary regarding potential partners. The party stated that its priority is to engage only with organizations that prioritize service delivery and aim to restore the dignity of the people. They made it clear that they will not negotiate with any political party that does not share service delivery as a top priority.
On the other side of the political spectrum, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) indicated that their coalition strategy is being directed from the top down. Emphasizing their adherence to democratic centralism, the party noted that their leadership is actively engaging with all other political parties. Specifically, EFF Secretary General Marshall Dlamini is leading these high-level engagements to navigate the coalition landscape.
Despite the political maneuvering and top-down strategies, the ultimate priority for local residents remains straightforward. Communities are demanding functioning municipalities, reliable service delivery, and stable local government operations to improve their daily lives.
