Doubts grow that Coalition Bill can be ready before November local elections

Timeline pressure clouds bid to legislate coalitions before local polls

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa has said he will table the proposed Coalition Bill before Cabinet next month, but doubts persist about whether the legislation can be completed in time for the 4 November local government elections.

What the bill seeks to do

The measure, formally the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill, is aimed at stabilising coalition-led councils by introducing binding agreements among coalition partners. The framework would require partners to sign agreements lasting the full five-year term and would regulate the frequency of no-confidence motions to prevent mayors being rotated at will.

Under a previous 2024 draft, signed agreements would have to be published and the minister would be empowered to regulate their content. More recently, the minister has spoken of compulsory agreements where no party secures a majority.

Why timing is a problem

Observers say making coalition agreements compulsory may face constitutional challenges, with analysts warning such provisions could infringe on the rights of councillors and be tested in the Constitutional Court. The bill must also complete parliamentary procedures before it becomes law.

According to Citizen, Hlabisa reiterated his commitment to introduce the Bill in June. The same outlet reports that election process analyst Michael Atkins said the legislation must still undergo parliamentary scrutiny, including referral to the relevant portfolio committee and compulsory public hearings.

With the parliamentary process required before a bill can be passed and signed by the president, time is a critical factor. With less than six months before the elections, some observers say the process may not be completed in time for implementation.

Notable omissions and political context

During his recent remarks the minister did not mention the proposed one percent threshold that would determine party qualification for municipal representation. The threshold has been widely debated and has attracted support from the ANC as a way to reduce the proliferation of micro-parties in councils. The omission suggests the minister may be avoiding added complexity to an already tight legislative timetable.

Where this leaves councils

Municipal councils have seen repeated leadership changes since 2021, with Johannesburg recording six mayors during that period and other metros like Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay also experiencing turnover. That instability has been linked to disrupted service delivery and the ongoing practice of frequent no-confidence motions.

Next steps: The bill must be tabled, referred to committee, undergo public hearings and be passed by Parliament before it can be signed into law. Until that process is complete, doubts remain about whether statutory changes to coalition rules will apply at the ballot on 4 November.