A coalition forms when no single party wins a majority of seats and two or more must agree to govern together. Since the 2021 local government elections, coalition government has become normal in South African municipalities rather than exceptional.
Where they are
| Province | Municipalities | Coalition governed |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Cape | 39 | 6 |
| Free State | 23 | 5 |
| Gauteng | 11 | 6 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 54 | 10 |
| Limpopo | 27 | 6 |
| Mpumalanga | 20 | 1 |
| North West | 22 | 1 |
| Northern Cape | 31 | 3 |
| Western Cape | 30 | 17 |
Why coalitions form
South Africa’s mixed electoral system allocates roughly half of council seats proportionally, which makes outright majorities harder to win than a purely ward-based system would. Where the vote is split between several parties of similar size, a hung council follows.
Why they matter for services
Coalition instability has practical consequences. Changes of mayor and municipal manager interrupt budgets and capital programmes, and repeated turnover in the accounting officer post is associated with weaker audit outcomes. Each profile names the current governing party or coalition and the office bearers in place.
Figures on this page come from National Treasury, Statistics South Africa and the Auditor-General, as set out in the sources and methodology. Read the methodology