5 October 2026 | 11:20 CAT

IN BRIEF:

• Voters should assess both national and local issues when choosing parties.
• Coalition governments are likely to become a permanent feature of local politics.
• Friedman says citizens must hold parties and councillors accountable after elections.

South Africa’s increasingly fragmented political landscape means coalition governments are likely to become a permanent feature of local government, according to political analyst and University of Johannesburg research professor Steven Friedman.

Speaking to Radio Islam International ahead of the 4 November local government elections, Friedman said the large number of parties contesting the poll should not necessarily be viewed as a problem for democracy, although it could make ballot papers more difficult for voters to navigate.

He said that while 111 parties are contesting in KwaZulu-Natal, only a much smaller number are likely to attract significant voter support.

“The problem, which sounds like a small problem, is actually quite a big one, is the ballot paper,” Friedman said.

He argued that the challenge of political fragmentation should not be addressed simply by making it financially more difficult for smaller parties to contest elections. Instead, he suggested that parties should demonstrate a level of voter support before being registered.

Friedman also said voters should not treat local elections as being completely separate from national politics. While municipal concerns such as service delivery remain important, he argued that a party’s national positions can provide an indication of how it may approach issues at local level.

For voters, he said, the key consideration should be whether a party is likely to represent their interests and respond to their concerns.

The growing number of hung councils is another consequence of political fragmentation, but Friedman said coalition governments should not automatically be blamed for problems with municipal service delivery.

He argued that coalition politics is a consequence of South Africa’s electoral system, which allows smaller parties to secure representation in councils without their supporters effectively “wasting” their votes.

“Coalitions are really going to be part of the future,” he said.

Friedman said the focus should therefore be on improving how coalitions operate rather than attempting to eliminate them. One concern, he said, was that political parties often enter coalition agreements without sufficiently consulting their voters.

He argued that citizens should demand greater accountability and insist that parties take their preferences into consideration when deciding which coalitions to join.

Friedman was also critical of the proposed Municipal Structures Amendment Bill, which seeks to introduce a legislative framework for coalition governments. The bill is currently before Parliament and includes provisions relating to coalition agreements, municipal executives and other aspects of council governance.

Friedman argued that some of the proposed changes could reduce democratic representation, including the proposed one percent threshold for parties to qualify for seats. He said this could deprive tens of thousands of voters of representation.

He also questioned the limited time currently available for parties to negotiate coalition arrangements after elections. Friedman said parties that have spent weeks campaigning against each other are expected to establish governing arrangements within a short period.

He argued that giving parties more time to negotiate, while ensuring municipalities continue to function, could contribute to more stable coalitions.

Ultimately, Friedman said voters should judge their elected representatives by whether they listen to residents and respond to their concerns.

He said citizens have a right to expect councillors to take their concerns seriously and should continue holding them accountable after election day.

LISTEN to the full interview with Professor Steven Friedman on Sabaahul Muslim, hosted by Ml Ibrahim Daya.