The impact of coalition governments on governance in SA

THE recent mayhem surrounding the tabling of the national budget regarding the VAT increase, and then reversal of that increase, for the upcoming financial year has once again laid bare the compromises and chaos that coalition governments can bring.

- DAVE BRYANT

While the outcome could be celebrated as a victory for justice and the people, the pathway to get there was paved with confusion, uncertainty, and instability, affecting businesses and individuals and leaving pertinent questions within the public sector.

This latest episode reflects the dysfunction we often see at local government level, where we have seen some municipalities cycle through as many as seven mayors in just three years. Such volatility at leadership level rattles confidence, stalls service delivery, derails strategic planning, and halts performance.

Coalition government

Since 2016, "coalition government" has become a household term in South Africa, and the 2021 Local Government Elections intensified this trend, with a record 70 hung councils. But South Africa's government has long struggled with perceptions of poor governance, weak leadership, and administrative inefficiency. In this context, the increase of hung councils deepens public skepticism and raises an urgent question - How much confidence can citizens retain in a system marked by indecision and instability?