WATCH: SALGA raises coalition govt frustration at SONA debate

Members of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces were in Parliament again on Wednesday to debate last Thursday's  State of the Nation Address.

The debate comes as many municipalities have been struggling with stability due to continuous motions of no confidence and differences amongst coalition partners.

In Gauteng, three municipalities are governed by coalition governments after parties failed to obtain an outright majority in the 2021 local government elections.

Two weeks ago, Al Jama-ah councillor Thapelo Amad was elected as the new mayor of Johannesburg, replacing the DA's Mpho Phalatse.

In Tshwane, The DA's Randall Williams announced his resignation on Monday morning, saying the decision was made in the interest of the continued stability of the muti-party coalition in the city.

Meanwhile in KwaZulu-Natal, the EFF has cut its coalition with the IFP.

Stofile said while the continuous changes might be in the best interest of political parties, local government has become unstable.

"We wish to spend some time sharing our frustrations as an association and thereby a problem in the country. Unlike previous elections, the 2021 local government elections gave rise to the most dramatic results as it relates to the coalition government.

"These developments suggest that coalition government will clearly become a common feature of our political landscape in South Africa going forward. In 2021 it was only 3 parties that formed the coalition government but today the local government that has a coalition have risen from 27 to 87, led by more than 6 parties and that tells us there is a crisis that we are going towards it.

"It is common knowledge that if you go to a municipality today you will find a mayor, in the next two hours you will find a different mayor and therefore it means the situation in local government become unstable and it requires leadership including members of parliament to deal with it

"If we don't deal with the animal called coalition, it will rob the majority of our people," said Stofile.

He pleaded with the government and Parliament to act.

"If we don't deal with the animal called coalition, it will rob the majority of our people. The majority of our people went and vote, when they vote you political parties, you lock yourselves in the room and cut the cake according to what is your interest, at the time community is locked outside.

"When the service is not rendered, the blame goes to the municipality.

We are calling to government and Parliament to act on this because it is a problem that is going to be with us for a very long time and we suggest that there must be certain instruments that are introduced."

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