Political scientist Bheki Mngomezulu says the country is not yet ready for coalition politics, as many coalitions have led to a disruption in basic services.
Johannesburg’s newly elected mayor, Thapelo Amad, himself a product of a coalition, will be sworn in on Monday. He became mayor on Friday with support from the African National Congress (ANC), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and other minority parties who voted together in the council.
Mngomezulu says: “Coalitions are unstable. Right now, I don’t think we’re ready for coalition politics, especially when we’re talking about post-election coalitions. Where coalitions have stayed a bit longer, countries like Australia, India, Germany, because before you go to an election you already know what you’re going to do in a coalition government. And usually they do what they call grand alliances, where two major parties come together.
Amad’s mayorship comes after Mpho Phalatse was ousted from the Democratic Alliance (DA) in a no-confidence motion.
According to Mngomezulu, coalition arrangements remain an issue in South Africa.
The politics of the coalition governments
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