COALITION POLITICS: Daryl Swanepoel is the Chief Executive Officer of the Inclusive Society Institute, an independent public policy research organisation that has worked extensively on electoral systems, electoral reform and democratic governance.
South Africa has become accustomed to living with coalition governments. That much is no longer in dispute. The question is not whether coalitions are here to stay, but whether Parliament is responding to this new political reality in a manner that strengthens our democracy or weakens it.
The debate has become complicated by an unusual legislative situation. The Local Government: Municipal Structures Second Amendment Bill (B9-2025) is the latest version of the legislation formally before Parliament and therefore the only text available for public scrutiny.
At the same time, Cabinet has reportedly approved a revised government version of the legislation that has yet to be introduced in Parliament. The public therefore does not know precisely what Parliament will ultimately be asked to consider.
That uncertainty is itself cause for concern.
