Valuable lessons can be learned from how Gauteng govt can maintain stability, study reveals

JOHANNESBURG - There are suggestions that valuable lessons can be learned from the Gauteng government’s ability to maintain stability despite being a minority coalition government.

 The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection’s director, Joel Netshietenzhe, said expectations for the provincial government to function with minimal disruption were low.

The Institute released results of its latest study on Tuesday, which analysed key trends across all levels of government before and after last year’s general elections.

Among other findings, the report concludes that provincial coalition governments are seemingly here to stay in provincial politics.

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature comprises 80 seats, requiring at least 41 for a party to secure a majority.

The African National Congress (ANC)-led coalition, which is made up of four political parties, holds only 31 seats, leaving Premier Panyaza Lesufi at the helm of a minority government.

This means the opposition has more seats than the provincial executive.

However, Netshitenzhe said while a minority government is generally not ideal, it’s impressive how well Lesufi’s administration appears to be functioning.

"The point one is making about Gauteng is that, given that it’s a minority government, many of us thought it would not be stable. From the point of view of analysis and academic research, we believe it’s a case study that needs to be looked at, at how a minority government can be formed and sustain itself in the South African setting."

Lesufi’s government would need a 50 %+ 1%majority to easily pass a budget and other legislation.

Despite being a minority government, it has managed to do so through confidence-and-supply agreements with parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and ActionSA.