Civil group warns against rushing Coalitions Bill before November local elections

Civil society has raised alarm over the prospect that the Coalitions Bill may be accelerated before South Africa’s 2026 local government elections on 4 November. My Vote Counts (MVC) and allied organisations have asked Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa to clarify whether government intends to introduce the legislation in Parliament with enough time for public input and parliamentary scrutiny.

Who is raising concerns

The letter to Minister Hlabisa was sent by MVC and endorsed by organisations including Black Sash and Planact. It was signed by MVC executive director Minhaj Jeenah.

What the group wants

MVC asked the minister to provide a timeline for introducing the bill in Parliament, and specifically whether the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (GoGTA) intends the legislation to be enacted before the 2026 local government elections. The organisation also asked what steps have been taken to ensure adequate time for public participation and parliamentary scrutiny.

Concerns about timing and changes to the bill

The letter expresses worry that the current timeline creates a significant risk that legislation with profound consequences for South Africa’s democratic system could be rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny or public participation. MVC said it is concerned that a version of the bill to be tabled in Parliament may differ from the original version proposed in 2024 and that, if so, the legislation will require thorough consideration by Parliament and meaningful opportunities for public engagement.

The draft bill was gazetted for public comment and the comment period closed on 31 August 2024. According to MVC, the draft legislation has been undergoing integration and revision in Parliament, and some political parties have opposed certain mechanisms.

Timeline questions

MVC noted that during a GoGTA presentation in November 2025, the submission to Parliament was scheduled for February or March 2026. MVC said that timeline has already passed, and that less than five months remain before the local government elections.

On implementation and preparation

Jeenah told GoGTA that following presidential assent, a reasonable implementation period is often required to allow departments, municipalities, political parties, electoral institutions and the public to prepare for a new legal framework. He said compressing the period between enactment and the 2026 local government elections risks creating uncertainty for electoral participants and institutions responsible for administering the system.

“Given these realities, we believe it is essential to ask how the government intends to ensure that sufficient time remains for a meaningful legislative process,”

“Reforms affecting electoral representation and coalition governance should be approached with particular caution when introduced shortly before an election. Public confidence in both the process and the outcome depends on the perception that changes have been carefully considered, openly debated, and implemented in a manner that is fair to all participants in the political system.”

Department response

GoGTA spokesperson Pearl Maseko-Binqose did not respond to messages and calls, MVC said.

What the bill would do

The Coalitions Bill was introduced by GoGTA to regulate and stabilise coalition governments at municipal level. The draft legislation seeks to create a regulatory framework for managing hung municipal councils by compelling political parties to enter into written, negotiated and legally enforceable coalition contracts. The draft also requires that those agreements be made public to foster transparent governance.