The political turmoil emanating from the City of Ekurhuleni is not merely an isolated coalition debacle but reflects a deeper challenge facing South Africa’s local government. The recent reshuffle of the mayoral committee by the African National Congress (ANC) Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has spiked tension within the coalition partners and has a potential risk of spilling over into broader coalition dynamics in Gauteng province. Once a fragile ‘marriage of convenience’ amongst coalition partners, Ekurhuleni’s governance has been defined by instability with three mayors and two speakers since the 2021 local government elections. Post the 2024 general elections and the subsequent formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), South African’s have witnessed some degree of political stability in the metros, however, persistent service delivery challenges remain, largely driven by the ongoing governance crisis. This recent development in the city now risks unravelling existing political arrangements such as the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), which is a minority government. Gauteng is currently governed by a minority GPU which relies on support from parties such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which are not members of the GPU, to navigate the legislative hurdles, and secure the majority of votes required to pass laws or decisions.
At the centre of the coalition challenges lies a broader challenge that extends beyond a mere mayoral reshuffle, namely the perception that the ANC failed to consult its partners and took unilateral decisions. The reshuffle reduced key strategic portfolios previously held by the EFF, and the earlier removal of the EFF’s member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for Finance has further heightened political tensions between the ANC and the EFF. Meanwhile, ActionSA has rejected the reported inclusion of its 2026 local government mayoral candidate of the city of Ekurhuleni, a media personality, Xolani Khumalo, citing a lack of proper consultation.
At the centre of the coalition turmoil lies a broader challenge that extends beyond a mere mayoral reshuffle, namely the perception that the ANC failed to consult its partners and took unilateral decisions.
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The lack of consultation in the era of multi-party governance, which requires cooperation and political consensus, raises questions about the ANC’s commitment to coalition politics. However, the party argues that the reshuffle and reduction of positions allocated to the coalition partners were meant to align representation in the mayoral committee with parties’ electoral support, in line with the proportional representation (PR) system. However, the central point of contention is that the ANC appears to have retained strategic mayoral committee portfolios for itself that carry significant political influence and control over major budgets.
If coalition partners feel excluded from critical decision-making processes or treated as junior coalition partners, they are far less likely to commit to stable governance and adhere to coalition agreements. The most likely reason the EFF remained in the coalition after the removal of its provincial leader and former MMC of finance Nkululeko Dunga, is that it still held some influence within governance structures. However, the reconfigured mayoral committee appears to have reduced the party’s access to key portfolios with significant political authority and budgetary control leaving it with less influential portfolios, prompting its eventual exit from the coalition and return to the opposition benches. This is particularly worrying, not only for Ekurhuleni, especially in the light of testimonies emerging from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the metro’s persistent service-delivery challenges, but also for Gauteng as a whole. As South Africa’s economic hub, the province faces serious socio-economic pressures, which require sustained political cooperation to navigate the challenges of good governance.
Political consensus is critical in the era of multi-party governance and it has spread to national and provincial governments since the 2024 general elections. This shift requires a culture of adequate consultation from coalition partners, transparency in decision-making processes and most importantly shared respect. As South Africa heads towards the 2026/7 local government elections, political parties will need to foster deeper political consensus, to prevent a return to political backsliding. In recent years, coalition arrangements in the metropolitan municipalities were unstable, with frequent changes of executives. Citizens need stability and municipalities need to rebuild trust by improving service delivery and responsive leadership ahead of the local government elections.
The political debacle in the city of Ekurhuleni is a litmus test for contemporary coalition politics; it exposes fault lines that can emerge when coalition politics are reduced to power-sharing without solid foundations of mutual respect. This should serve as a reminder to our political leaders and coalition partners that coalition governance requires genuine cooperation and broad political consensus rather than partisan interests over the priorities of the electorate, which has placed its trust in political parties to improve citizens’ lives.
The political debacle in the city of Ekurhuleni is a litmus test for contemporary coalition politics; it exposes fault lines that can emerge when coalition politics are reduced to power-sharing without solid foundations of mutual respect.
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Boikanyo Collins Nkwatle is an emerging researcher and independent political and social commentator on current affairs.
