Institutional Reform Vital for South Africa's Evolving Political Landscape

Reneva Fourie

The contemporary political landscape in South Africa is undergoing a notable transformation as the country prepares for the local government elections scheduled to take place between November 2026 and January 2027.

A steadily increasing number of political parties, currently totalling 472, have declared their intention to contest these elections. On the surface, this development appears to represent a positive reflection of democratic participation.

Yet beneath this surface enthusiasm lies a set of challenges that demand scrutiny as the growing proliferation of political parties is placing significant strain on the stability and functionality of South Africa’s political system.

The motivation underpinning the rise of the numerous political organisations and how they are being funded merits scrutiny. The shifting patterns of voter sentiment might be attributed to voter disappointment in the governance performance of the ANC, which has long dominated South African politics. Communities that once supported the party with unquestioned loyalty have become disillusioned. This has created space for new entrants to present themselves as alternatives.

Unfortunately, the characteristic of this proliferation is not necessarily ideological or programmatic but is often personalistic, ethnic, or micro-local. The rising popularity of old parties like the IFP and FF+ and new parties like MKP and the PA demonstrate that ethnic nationalist sentiments are gaining traction in the political space.

Some entrants are also driven by personal ambition and opportunism as they move to form their own political parties after being disciplined in their former parties. We are also witnessing parties being launched to protest on a specific issue.

The core difficulty does not lie in the existence of many parties alone. Political pluralism is generally celebrated as a hallmark of a vibrant democracy. The deeper problem rests within the institutional and regulatory frameworks that govern how electoral outcomes are converted into workable structures of government. The experience since the 2021 local government elections demonstrates that greater party diversity can generate severe difficulties at the municipal level. 

That election produced over 70 hung councils across the country. The absence of outright majorities in these municipalities triggered long and often bitter coalition negotiations. The result has been unstable administrations plagued by frequent changes in leadership, endless motions of no confidence, and fragile coalitions that collapse as quickly as they are formed. Instead of improved service delivery and sound planning, municipal governance has been paralysed by political infighting.

A key weakness lies in the design of the electoral system. While the system allows for direct votes at the Ward level, South Africa also employs a system of proportional representation in local government, with no threshold for entry into a council. This means that a party can win a seat with as little as one per cent of the vote. The consequence is extreme fragmentation of councils. 

The Municipal Structures Amendment Bill 2024 (Coalitions Bill) aims to address this challenge by introducing a minimum one per cent threshold. By contrast, countries such as Germany set a minimum threshold of five per cent for representation, thereby encouraging consolidation and discouraging the formation of tiny parties that rely on transactional politics.

Another difficulty is the absence of formalised rules governing coalition arrangements. Coalition agreements in South Africa are usually ad hoc, opaque, and unstable. Parties often come together simply to prevent another party from taking power rather than based on coherent and shared policies.

The result is that alliances are frequently ideological mismatches. They lack a common purpose, collapse under pressure, and leave municipalities drifting from one political crisis to the next. Councillors often defect to other parties or change their allegiances, further destabilising fragile administrations.

There is also the problematic practice of parties supporting minority governments from the outside without assuming executive responsibility. Such arrangements allow them to exert policy influence while evading accountability for governance failures.

This behaviour reflects a political culture more focused on tactical advantage than on effective leadership. It encourages manoeuvring rather than problem-solving, with devastating consequences for residents who depend on municipalities to provide essential services such as clean water, waste management, and infrastructure maintenance.

The cumulative effect of these dynamics is a significant decline in government performance and the steady erosion of public confidence in the political system. Many voters who shifted their allegiance in the hope of improved service delivery have instead witnessed greater instability and worsening municipal outcomes.

Disillusionment grows, and so does political apathy. When people lose faith in the ability of the system to deliver meaningful change, they are less likely to participate in future elections. Over time, this undermines the very democratic vitality that political pluralism is meant to encourage.

South Africa’s institutional frameworks are ill-equipped to manage such a fragmented political environment. Reform is necessary to prevent continued deterioration. Introducing a reasonable electoral threshold for representation at the local level would be a sensible step. It would reduce fragmentation, encourage pre-election alliances, and ensure that only parties with substantial support can enter councils.

In addition, South Africa urgently requires a formalised and transparent framework for coalition formation and management. Clear protocols could establish minimum requirements for coalition agreements, promote shared policy platforms, and reduce the incentive for opportunistic defections.

Such reforms would not eliminate political conflict, but they could provide a more stable environment in which municipalities can govern effectively. Local government is the sphere closest to the people. It is where citizens directly experience the performance of the state in their everyday lives. The failure of local councils erodes not only public services but also the legitimacy of the entire democratic project.

As South Africa moves toward the 2026 local government elections, the stakes could not be higher. The proliferation of political parties reflects both the dissatisfaction of citizens and the resilience of democratic engagement.

Yet unless institutional reforms are undertaken, this very proliferation will continue to weaken rather than strengthen governance. Political pluralism holds great promise, but without proper regulation and responsible leadership, it risks becoming a source of instability that undermines the welfare of the public.

* 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.