Mbeki Warns Coalition Governments Could Slow Service Delivery After Local Elections

Published 2026-10-28

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki has warned that coalition governments could make it harder to deal with important problems such as poor service delivery and unemployment. He made the comments ahead of the local government elections, when many municipalities may be run by several parties working together rather than by a single party with a clear majority.

A coalition happens when two or more political parties join forces to form a government. In South Africa, this has become more common in recent years, especially in local municipalities, where no party has won enough votes to govern alone. Coalitions can bring together different views and widen support, but they can also lead to disagreements over policies, budgets and leadership positions.

Mr Mbeki's concerns focus on the effect that these disagreements could have on ordinary residents. Service delivery, which includes basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation and refuse removal, is one of the most important issues for many communities. Unemployment, which remains very high in the country, is also a key concern. Mr Mbeki suggested that unstable or divided councils could delay decisions that are needed to improve these areas.

The warning comes at a time when many South Africans are closely watching the local elections, because local councils play a direct role in people's daily lives. Analysts say that the way parties work together after the vote will be important in deciding whether municipalities can deliver the services that residents need.

Sources: IOL

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