Hlabisa calls for proactive support to municipalities amid coalition talks

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Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has urged all stakeholders in the local government sphere to play a proactive role in supporting municipalities, particularly those facing coalition…

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has urged all stakeholders in the local government sphere to play a proactive role in supporting municipalities, particularly those facing coalition negotiations.

This as newly elected councillors move to formualte municipal councils, following the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The Minister made the call during a Special Minister and Members of Executive Councils (MINMEC) meeting held on Tuesday, aimed at considering the Guidelines for Stable Coalitions in Local Government to help municipalities navigate coalition arrangements and promote stability in the new term.

“As a sector, we must play a proactive role in supporting municipalities throughout this process, particularly those where no political party has secured an outright majority and where negotiations between political parties may result in deadlocks or delays in constituting councils,” Hlabisa stated.

The meeting brought together CoGTA leadership, representatives of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, provincial MECs responsible for local government and executives from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Municipal Demarcation Board and CoGTA’s national and provincial structures.

The special MINMEC followed a technical MINMEC meeting held on Monday, where the draft guidelines were considered and technical inputs made before the revised document was presented to the political meeting for consideration and approval.

Hlabisa commended the CoGTA sector for its work ahead of and during the 2026 Local Government Elections, noting that preparations and coordination across government helped municipalities prepare for the democratic process.

Following the conclusion of the elections on 4 November 2026, the immediate priority is to ensure that newly elected municipal councils are constituted within the prescribed legislative and constitutional timeframes.

The election results have produced…

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