The Challenges of Coalition Governance in South Africa's Political Landscape

Dr. Reneva Fourie

After thirty years of single-party rule, South Africa has moved into a period where coalitions seem unavoidable. In the 2024 national elections, the African National Congress won just 40 percent of the vote, leading to a Government of National Unity comprised of ten political parties.

This shift marks a significant change in how the country is governed, establishing a multiparty system that will shape politics and governance for years to come. With local government elections coming up in 2026, reflections on coalition governance are particularly pertinent, since experiences at both national and local spheres will shape what voters expect and how parties plan.

South Africa’s experience with coalitions has been marked by instability within local government. Since 2016, hung councils have produced fragile administrations characterised by frequent leadership changes and ongoing political bargaining. These arrangements have often prioritised power arithmetic over effective governance.

While structural problems such as fiscal stress and infrastructural decay predate coalition rule, constant renegotiation has compounded administrative weakness. This record has fuelled public scepticism about coalitions at the national level, even where institutional differences suggest potential for greater stability.

At the national and provincial levels, proportional representation makes it more difficult to dissolve governments. Even if individual representatives change, the overall balance in parliament stays the same, and the executive is less likely to suddenly collapse.

These factors gave the Government of National Unity some stability in 2025. The cabinet stayed in place, and there were no serious efforts to break up the coalition. However, having a stable structure did not lead to unified or effective action.

People often look to other countries to show that coalition governments can work. For example, Germany and Switzerland have stable multiparty governments that make effective policies. They succeed because they have detailed coalition agreements, clear roles, and strong traditions of compromise.

In these countries, power sharing follows clear rules. In contrast, South Africa started its coalition government without similar agreements or traditions, and this lack became more obvious in 2025.

The Government of National Unity’s founding agreement turned out to be weak and hard to enforce, a problem that became clear when important policy decisions had to be made. Disagreements went beyond minor issues and affected key laws and budget decisions.

The biggest conflict was over the national budget, where coalition partners disagreed on spending priorities, debt, and how to balance social needs with economic growth. Instead of working out these differences together, some tried to use legal solutions, which undermined principles of accountable government.

These same problems showed up in other major laws. The Expropriation Act highlighted deep divisions over redistribution and property rights. The Basic Education Laws Amendment Act increased tensions about how schools are run and language policies, turning education into a battleground of political differences instead of teamwork.

The National Health Insurance plan also faced pushback within the coalition, with arguments about timing and implementation causing delays and confusion. Debates about Black Economic Empowerment were similar: even though everyone agreed on inclusion, they could not agree on how to achieve it, leaving the policy direction uncertain.

Foreign policy brought more disagreements. Coalition partners differed markedly on global alignment and multilateral engagement. While these differences did not change actual policies, they led to mixed messages and made South Africa’s diplomacy less coherent. 

Still, the events of 2025 enable another option that has not been fully explored. A coalition based on shared goals like redistribution, social protection, and a strong developmental state could be more united in its ideas than the current setup.

If partners agree that inequality is a deep-rooted problem and that the state should help fix it, then major social laws might not cause as many fights. This kind of agreement would not end all disagreements, but it could help parties focus on how to put policies into action instead of arguing about basic principles.

 A coalition focused on public services, protecting workers, and inclusive growth could also help keep policies consistent. Rather than always settling for the easiest compromise, partners could work together to support real change while still discussing what is practical. This has not happened in the current Government of National Unity, which is part of a larger trend in South African politics.

Coalitions are often seen as a way to get into office, not as a real commitment to working together. This attitude, seen in all spheres of government, makes it harder for coalitions to stick to clear programmes and maintain discipline.

Ideologically, coalition governance in 2025 produced restraint without clarity. Sharing power stopped any one group from making decisions alone, which some people saw as a good change from the past. But in reality, this caution often turned into inaction. Big problems like inequality, unemployment, and weak institutions needed strong action, but coalition politics often obstructed tough reforms instead of facilitating them. 

As the 2026 local elections approach, parties will need to show whether they have learnt how to make real compromises. Voter fragmentation shows little sign of reversal, and no party appears close to securing an outright majority. Coalition governance has therefore become a structural feature rather than a transitional phase. Its effectiveness depends on unresolved choices.

Durable coalitions require clear agreements, credible dispute resolution mechanisms, and acceptance of mutual constraint, as well as sufficient state capacity. During 2025, a public administration weakened by austerity and instability struggled to support a fragmented executive. 

A coalition government is now a fact of life in South Africa. The events of 2025 and the upcoming 2026 local elections show that it is still unclear if this system can really work well. While coalitions have kept things stable, they have not brought unity.

Whether future coalitions can move from just sharing power to truly working together, and whether they can focus on shared social goals, will decide if this system leads to progress or just keeps things the same. The way parties act before the local elections will influence whether people see coalitions as a way to bring change or as a sign of inaction.

* Dr. Reneva Fourie is a policy analyst specialising in governance, development, and security.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.