Political Brokering in the Era of Coalition Governing in South Africa and Its Implications on Candidate Choices by Voters
Introduction
South Africa’s democratic system has evolved significantly since the first democratic elections in 1994. For nearly three decades, the African National Congress (ANC) dominated the political landscape, winning successive elections with comfortable majorities. However, in the last decade, the ANC’s dominance has weakened due to governance failures, corruption scandals, internal factionalism, and the rise of opposition parties. This decline has opened the door for coalition politics, particularly at municipal levels, where no single party often secures an outright majority.
The emergence of coalition governance has ushered in a new era of political brokering, an intricate process where parties negotiate, trade, and align interests to form governing coalitions. While coalitions are common in parliamentary systems worldwide, South Africa’s context is unique because of its history, the centrality of the ANC, and the diversity of political ideologies represented. This new political dynamic profoundly shapes the choices that voters make, influencing how they perceive candidates, parties, and the value of their vote.
This write-up explores the role of political brokering in coalition governance in South Africa and examines how it affects voters’ candidate choices. It unpacks the historical background, the mechanisms of brokering, real-world examples from municipal and provincial politics, and the broader implications for democratic consolidation in South Africa.
Historical Context of Coalition Politics in South Africa
Coalition politics in South Africa is not entirely new. In the early 2000s, smaller parties often entered into coalitions with the ANC or the Democratic Alliance (DA) in local councils. However, these arrangements were not always stable. By the 2016 municipal elections, a watershed moment emerged: the ANC lost control of key metropolitan municipalities such as Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay. Opposition parties, including the DA, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and a range of smaller parties, became central to governance arrangements.
The 2019 general elections further eroded the ANC’s support, and predictions for 2024 suggested a potential scenario where the ANC could lose its national majority, compelling coalition formation at the national level. This shift marks a fundamental transition in South Africa’s political culture, with coalition politics becoming a structural feature rather than an exception.
Political Brokering in Coalition Governance
Political brokering refers to the negotiations, compromises, and trade-offs that political actors engage in to form or sustain governing coalitions. In South Africa, this process often involves power-sharing agreements, where parties decide who controls key positions such as mayor, speaker, or committee chairs. It also includes policy trade-offs, where parties agree on which priorities will be advanced or diluted in exchange for coalition support. Resource allocation plays a role as well, with bargaining over budgets, development projects, and patronage networks being common. Finally, strategic alignment occurs when smaller parties leverage their kingmaker position to extract concessions from larger ones.
The Role of Smaller Parties
Smaller parties such as the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), ActionSA, Freedom Front Plus (FF+), and Patriotic Alliance (PA) play a critical role as “kingmakers.” With only a few seats, they can determine whether a coalition succeeds or collapses. This elevates their bargaining power far beyond their actual electoral support.
Challenges of Brokering
Despite its importance, political brokering comes with serious challenges. Coalitions often suffer from instability when agreements break down, leading to collapses in governance. Opportunism also arises when parties switch allegiances for short-term gains. Policy incoherence is another issue, as divergent ideologies within coalitions weaken consistent policy implementation. In addition, accountability erodes when governance is shared, since voters may find it difficult to hold any single party responsible for failures.
Case Studies of Coalition Politics in South Africa
In Johannesburg (2016–2019), the Democratic Alliance (DA) formed a coalition with smaller parties, supported by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority. However, the coalition proved fragile, with ongoing tensions over service delivery and leadership. Eventually, internal disputes led to instability, reflecting the difficulty of sustaining coalitions in South Africa’s polarized political landscape.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (2016–2021) experienced similar challenges. A series of unstable coalitions resulted in mayors being removed repeatedly through motions of no confidence. This constant reshuffling undermined service delivery and eroded public trust in local government.
Ekurhuleni and Tshwane have also struggled with coalition fragility. In both metros, parties such as the EFF and ActionSA have acted as kingmakers, but the frequent breakdown of agreements has highlighted the transactional nature of coalition politics.
Implications on Voter Choices
Coalition politics directly affects how voters perceive and choose candidates. The following dimensions illustrate the impact:
i. Shift from Party Loyalty to Strategic Voting
Historically, many South African voters were loyal to liberation movement identities, particularly the ANC. However, the rise of coalition politics encourages strategic voting, where voters consider not just the popularity of a candidate but also how their vote could influence coalition outcomes. For instance, some voters may support smaller parties knowing they could act as kingmakers.
ii. Focus on Leadership Qualities
Coalition instability has made voters more attentive to leadership qualities such as negotiation skills, integrity, and the ability to compromise. Candidates perceived as pragmatic deal-makers may gain voter confidence, while those seen as rigid ideologues risk alienating the electorate.
iii. Distrust and Voter Apathy
Frequent breakdowns of coalitions can breed cynicism among voters. When voters see parties shifting alliances opportunistically, they may lose trust in the system and abstain from voting altogether. Low voter turnout in recent elections partly reflects this disillusionment.
iv. Increased Importance of Local Issues
Coalitions often bring governance closer to local priorities, since smaller parties usually bargain for constituency-specific benefits. This can lead voters to prioritize candidates who demonstrate strong community ties and an ability to secure tangible benefits from coalition agreements.
v. Fragmentation of the Political Landscape
Coalition politics encourages the rise of smaller, issue-specific parties. Voters may be attracted to these niche parties because they reflect immediate concerns, such as service delivery, housing, or ethnic identity. However, this fragmentation complicates governance and often forces voters to make trade-offs between ideals and pragmatic coalition outcomes.
Recommendations for Managing Coalition Brokering
- Institutionalizing Coalition Agreements: Formal, transparent agreements should be made public to ensure accountability.
- Strengthening Electoral Education: Voters need education on the implications of coalition politics and how their choices influence governance.
- Promoting Intra-Party Democracy: Stronger party structures can reduce the instability that arises from factionalism and opportunistic brokering.
- Encouraging Ethical Leadership: Candidates should be evaluated not just on popularity but on their ability to negotiate in good faith and serve the public interest.
Conclusion
The rise of coalition governance in South Africa marks a profound transformation in its democratic trajectory. Political brokering has become central to how governments are formed and sustained, with smaller parties wielding disproportionate influence. While this new era creates opportunities for inclusivity and pluralism, it also poses significant risks of instability, opportunism, and voter disillusionment.
For voters, coalition politics has reshaped how candidates are assessed and chosen. No longer is party loyalty the only determining factor; instead, qualities such as integrity, pragmatism, and coalition competence are becoming central. The long-term health of South Africa’s democracy will depend on how effectively political actors manage coalition brokering and how voters adapt their choices in this evolving
Dr. Lizzy Oluwatoyin Ofusori is an academician and a researcher. She writes in her capacity.
