Coalition Government: Lessons from the City of Tshwane’s Performance in Implementing the Integrated Development Plan between 2016-2021

Description

Page: 515-520

Enslin J. van Rooyen (Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership, Programme: Public Administration and Management, University of Limpopo, South Africa)

Following the May 2024 South African general elections, the first-ever coalition Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed, with the African National Congress partnering with minority parties. As a first-sphere governance entity with limited coalition experience, the GNU may benefit from lessons learned at lower government levels. This study examines the City of Tshwane (CoT), a third-sphere metropolitan municipality, as a case study. Integrated development was chosen as a focal point due to its strategic importance in local governance and service delivery. The study explores factors influencing CoT’s implementation of its Integrated Development Plan (IDP) from 2016 to 2021. A literature survey was conducted on coalition dynamics, and interviews were held with CoT councillors and senior municipal officials responsible for IDP execution. Ethics approval was obtained prior to the research, and all the participants provided written full informed consent. Key findings indicate that delayed budget approvals due to coalition disagreements significantly impacted governance. Additionally, poor communication and coordination among coalition partners further hindered IDP implementation and overall service delivery. From a Public Administration perspective, the study underscores the critical role of budgetary process efficiency and effective communication between coalition partners and municipal officials in ensuring administrative performance. These insights may guide the GNU as it navigates governance complexities at the national level.