Coalition governance has become a prominent feature of South Africa’s political landscape, emerging across local, provincial, and national levels.
The ANC, often the leading party in these coalitions, has consistently branded these power-sharing arrangements as “governments of unity”.
However, the reality behind this rhetoric tells a very different story.
Rather than embodying true unity, these coalitions are political marriages of convenience, fragile and unsustainable.
The term “government of unity” is a gross misrepresentation of what is actually a scramble for power, driven by self-interest rather than a commitment to public service or cohesive governance.
The ANC’s weakening grip on power has led to a proliferation of coalition governments. At the local level, particularly in key metros such as Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay, no single party has been able to secure a majority since 2016, forcing political parties to forge coalitions.
This has been mirrored in provincial contexts, most notably in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, where ANC-led coalitions have emerged. Nationally, South Africa saw the formation of a coalition government after the May 29 election.
The shift from single-party dominance to coalition politics represents a significant change in South African governance. On the surface, coalition governments might seem to represent a more inclusive form of governance.
However, the ANC’s use of the term “government of unity” is nothing more than a strategic veneer. By invoking the idea of unity, the ANC attempts to present itself as a mature political actor willing to co-operate across party lines for the good of the nation. This framing is meant to echo the inclusive nature of the Government of National Unity (GNU) established in 1994.
Yet, there is a critical difference: the GNU emerged from a negotiated settlement that sought to bridge deep historical divides, whereas today’s coalitions are formed primarily out of political necessity, not ideological alignment or a shared vision for the country.
True unity requires a common purpose, shared values, and a commitment to collective action. The current coalition arrangements lack all three.
Instead, they are largely transactional.
The ANC has formed coalitions with parties on both the far-left and far-right of the political spectrum, not out of a shared commitment to governance, but out of a sheer need to maintain control.
One of the most damning consequences of coalition governance in South Africa is the chronic instability it produces. Coalition governments are inherently unstable, with constant threats of collapse due to the fragile nature of the alliances they are built on. The City of Johannesburg has had eight mayors since the 2016 local government elections – a clear indication of the instability brought about by coalition politics.
With parties constantly switching allegiances and forming new partnerships, the result has been a merry-go-round of leadership changes, rendering these governments ineffective at best and chaotic at worst.
This instability has had devastating consequences for service delivery, particularly at the local government level. The constant change in leadership has made it nearly impossible for long-term planning to take place, leading to the decay of infrastructure, mismanagement of resources, and widespread financial crises in several municipalities.
At the provincial level, the ANC’s coalition arrangements have similarly failed to deliver any meaningful form of unity or stability. In Gauteng, ongoing tensions between coalition partners have lead to paralysis in decision-making and policy implementation.
Rather than embracing the rhetoric of unity, South Africa’s political leaders must work towards building coalitions that are grounded in genuine co-operation, shared values, and a commitment to effective governance. Until that happens, these coalitions will remain what they truly are: fragmented, unstable, and far from united.
* Brown is a Bachelor of Social Science student at UCT