UDM decision on coalitions in Local Government 2016
17 August 2016
Pursuant to the 2016 Municipal Elections on 3 August, which resulted in 27 hung councils across the country, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) was approached by both the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) with the view to form coalition governments.
The UDM has always understood coalition government as a form of cooperation between political parties who agree on specific principles and programmes to address the challenges of service delivery. Central to these is the immediate need to create jobs, eradicate poverty, fight and uproot corruption and promote good governance.
We used our 2016 Municipal Elections Manifesto as a compass in engaging with all the parties that took part in coalition discussions. The central theme of our Manifesto is to: “Put Community First”.
In our view, the results of the 2016 Municipal Elections are a clarion call to all political parties to join hands with communities and civil society to provide visionary leadership to the country through local government.
The electorate has rejected the corrupt and arrogant governance of the ANC and has not endorsed any party in the hung councils. The message sent by the electorate is significant for our system of government and our constitutional democracy. We are firm in our resolve to respect the voice of the electorate at all times and will do everything possible to not disappoint them.
The empty promises, the shoddy work and the non-functioning local sphere of government which is characterised by, amongst others, a lack of properly maintained infrastructure and a lack of visionary leadership, has been rejected.
The electorate has called for an immediate end of bickering between political parties and focus on the work to be done. In this regard, the UDM commits that, in all municipalities in which it will be assisting with governance, it shall be non-partisan, and will place the people of South Africa first.
We wish to advise that in order to not inherit problems, there must be a comprehensive handover process. The councils must strengthen their oversight role over the administration. There must be stability in the administrations of councils and workers should be assured of their positions as long as they stay out of politics and take public service as a profession. We must draw a clear line between government and a political party.