Velenkosini Hlabisa, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, issued guidelines on Wednesday for municipal coalitions to protect service delivery during political transitions. In 138 metro and local municipalities, approximately 65% of those councils, no single party achieved an outright majority in the election on 4 November.
Pearl Maseko-Binqose, spokesperson for the minister, says the guidelines give political parties and municipalities practical guidance on how to manage coalitions and resolve disputes. The guidelines encourage parties to reach written agreement on their policy priorities, the division of political responsibilities and how they will make decisions. Decisions on administrative appointments, procurement and the awarding of tenders remain with those authorised to do so in terms of legislation.
Hlabisa emphasised that coalition negotiations do not provide a postponement for the first council meeting. Metro and local councils must hold their first meeting within 14 days after publication of the notice in the Government Gazette in which the names of the elected councillors appear.
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This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
