(Not) learning from experience: coalition government in South African municipalities from the perspective of context-based theory.

Abstract

This paper investigates the intricate landscape of coalition governance within South Africa's local municipalities, aiming to assess its viability as a sustainable model for future government. The literature describes this form of government as one of the complex forms because of its nature rooted in power dynamics. Simultaneously, it is identified as a viable form of government recognised for its inclusive nature, accommodating diverse interests within the nation's complex social fabric. However, political parties involved in this form of collaboration face significant hurdles, including managing competing ideologies, ensuring stability amidst divergent agendas, and upholding accountability. Therefore, this paper uses a secondary data analysis to scrutinise coalition government by reviewing academic literature, governmental reports, and media. The paper uses the context-based theory as a theoretical lens to interpret the emerging findings from the literature review. The findings from the literature establish that the socioeconomic and political context of the area are some of the fundamental determinants of the success or failure of a coalition government. In essence, this form of government is likely to produce an unstable coalition in areas characterised by volatile political engagement and severe socioeconomic conditions. The opposite is true in areas composed of stable political contexts. This is fuelled by the lack of a proper legislative framework that guides this form of governance. Therefore, one of the recommendations of this paper is that there should be policy agreements and operational frameworks among coalition partners to improve working relations for effective and sustainable service delivery in local government.