South Africa’s hung councils put coalition governance to the test
Full story
In South Africa, 127 out of 213 municipalities now have hung councils. This means no single party holds a majority in those local governments. Political parties are under pressure to negotiate coalitions that can provide stable administration. Observers note that delivering services to residents must take precedence over partisan bargaining. The situation tests the ability of local actors to work together.
With 127 of South Africa’s 213 municipalities returning hung councils, parties face pressure to form stable administrations and prioritise service delivery over political bargaining.