By BAKANG MOKOTO
11 November 2026 – The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa has urged political parties to prioritise stability, cooperation and service delivery during coalition negotiations as municipalities without an outright majority prepare to constitute their councils following the 2026 Local Government Elections. Hlabisa said the 14-day period for the constitution of municipal councils will begin on 11 November 2026, following the official gazetting of the election results.
Speaking to the media after the successful elections, Hpabisa said he would convene a special meeting with provincial Members of the Executive Council (MinMEC) responsible for local government to discuss measures to ensure stability during the post-election transition. He further said the meeting will focus on ensuring that hung municipalities constitute their councils within the prescribed 14-day period.
“I am very confident that the coalition discussions, political parties who can work together and who can constitute 50% plus one will find each other. I would also like to He caution political parties against confusing having the largest number of seats in a municipal council with securing an outright majority, stressing that parties must obtain support from other political formations to reach the required 50% plus one threshold.
“If you did not get 50% plus one, you are not a majority. You are only bigger. You need to engage other political parties so that you have 50% plus one,” said Hlabisa.
He emphasised that coalition negotiations should be guided by the interests of communities, particularly the need to establish stable local governments capable of delivering services without unnecessary delays. Hlabisa added that political parties were already engaging in discussions based on principles of stability, cooperation and the need to root out corruption in municipalities.
“The immediate priority was to ensure that incoming municipal councils were constituted within the stipulated timeframe so they could begin addressing the service delivery needs of communities,” he said.
