THE CITY’S FUTURE MUST COME FIRST
CCN Editor – George C April
The political battle for control of Johannesburg is once again raising an important question about South Africa’s coalition politics:
Should the party with the largest share of the vote automatically be given the opportunity to govern, or should political parties first demonstrate that they can secure the support needed to run a municipality effectively?
The Democratic Alliance (DA), with approximately 35% of the vote, has emerged as a significant political force in Johannesburg. However, that result does not automatically translate into a council majority or an unconditional mandate to govern alone.
Coalition negotiations are therefore about much more than political numbers. They are about accountability, policy agreements and the ability of different parties to work together in the interests of residents.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has a legitimate reason to insist that negotiations must be based on principles and commitments rather than simply the distribution of political positions.
But Johannesburg residents should also ask an important question: What kind of city do they want, and which coalition can realistically deliver it?
Looking beyond political party promises
The DA’s governing record in Cape Town is frequently raised in political debates, particularly around affordable housing, spatial inequality, informal settlements and the economic divide between wealthy and poorer communities.
These are legitimate areas for scrutiny, although Johannesburg has its own challenges and cannot simply be compared with Cape Town.
The question is not whether one political party has all the answers. It is whether any party seeking to govern can demonstrate that its policies will improve the circumstances of ordinary working-class residents.
Informal settlement communities, unemployed residents, township entrepreneurs and families struggling with the cost of living cannot afford another political arrangement that fails to deliver meaningful improvements.
Could another coalition be possible?
One proposal worth examining is whether the ANC, ActionSA, MK Party and EFF could explore an alternative governing arrangement.
Such an arrangement would depend on the actual council seat distribution, agreement between the parties and their willingness to commit to a common programme of action.
However, securing enough council seats is only the beginning. A coalition without shared priorities, financial discipline and accountability could create more instability than solutions.
Johannesburg needs more than an agreement to remove one party from power. It needs an agreement on how the city will be governed.
What should residents demand?
Regardless of which parties eventually form a coalition, residents should insist on:
Affordable housing and dignified human settlements.
Reliable electricity and water services.
Properly maintained roads and municipal infrastructure.
Economic opportunities for township businesses and informal traders.
Transparent procurement and consequences for corruption.
Equal attention to wealthy suburbs, townships and informal settlements.
A municipality that puts residents before political interests.
The bigger question.
South Africa’s coalition politics has reached a point where election percentages alone cannot determine the future of a municipality.
A party can emerge as the largest political force without having enough support to govern independently. Equally, several smaller parties can collectively secure a majority, but that does not guarantee effective leadership.
The real test is whether those parties can put their differences aside and agree on a workable plan.
Johannesburg belongs to its residents, not to any political party.
35% is not 100%. Winning the largest share of the vote is one thing; earning the trust and support needed to govern is another.
Perhaps Johannesburg’s political leaders should spend less time fighting over who gets the keys to the city and more time explaining what they intend to do once they have them.
CCN asks: Is Johannesburg better served by a DA-led coalition, or should other parties explore an alternative arrangement? More importantly, what guarantees should residents demand before any coalition takes office?
