Coalitions of contradiction

NEW STUDY: PARTY POLITICS, OFFICE-SEEKING UNDERMINE FUNCTIONALITY AT ALL LEVELS

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

A new study reveals that contradictions and robustness are common features among current coalition partnerships at all levels of government after the May 2024 elections.

The partners often use coalitions as a platform for political contestation, to challenge each other without risking consequences. They still want to remain in the coalition government to benefit from its advantages.

The study said the government of national unity (GNU) may continue, but under duress, and coalitions, rather than majority party governments, are set to become common in future.

The ANC, which obtained 40% in the 2024 elections, used the GNU to consolidate for future elections, hoping to increase its support and take power again.

These are some of the key trends emerging from the Coalition Barometer II report released in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The study by a team from Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (Mistra) was headed by Mistra's director of research, Prof Susan Booysen.

It looks at coalition governments at local, provincial and national levels following the 2024 national and provincial elections.

It focuses on the growth and manifestation of coalition politics at local level and divergence of contemporary coalition politics from the post-1994 practices to trends from 2023-2025 and the influence of provincial and national practices.