With next year’s general elections fast approaching, pre-election coalition talks are on the go.
A multiparty charter, consisting of the DA, IFP, FF Plus, ActionSA, United Independent Movement, Spectrum National Party and Independent South African National Civic Organisation, is gaining momentum, with its aim — among other things — to topple the ANC and keep the EFF out of a possible national coalition government after the 2024 national elections.
Though the parties have been criticised as presumptuous, the early discussions are a positive and mature step towards hopefully reaching consensus because the reality is that coalition governments in SA municipalities are not working.
The municipalities that have multiparty governments running them are in a worse state than ever before — Nelson Mandela Bay, Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni are all in a shambles.
Council meetings often turn chaotic, while parties spend an inordinate amount of time focused on trying to out-maneuver the ruling coalition and barely reach consensus on the business of developing cities.
The residents are the ones that suffer as basic service delivery deteriorates over time.
If trends over the last few elections are anything to go by, there is a strong possibility that the ANC could lose outright control of at least one province or garner less than 50% of the vote in the national poll.
The ANC appears to be taking heed of this reality.
In a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva and his delegation on Tuesday, ANC officials discussed the management of coalitions, saying there was a lot that could be learnt from Brazil and its handling of coalition governments.
The South American country does not have a majority party in government.
The Brazilians explained to the ANC officials that there had to be mutual respect among the parties for coalition arrangements to work.
Perhaps that is what has been missing in the SA political landscape.
Discussions are often centred on positions and wanting to score cheap political points as opposed to unity and working together to ultimately fix our cities.
Are political party leaders in SA mature enough to accept the changing political landscape?
Next year’s game-changing election will be the true test of their maturity and their commitment to the nation.
HeraldLIVE