By Thapelo Molefe
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on political parties to put communities ahead of political power struggles as South Africa faces a new wave of coalition negotiations following the 2026 Local Government Elections, which left 127 municipal councils without outright majorities.
Addressing the announcement of the final election results at the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) Results Operations Centre in Midrand on Sunday, Ramaphosa said that negotiations over municipal governments must not become contests over positions, privileges or the distribution of power.
“They must be guided by what will best serve the people,” he said.
The president’s remarks come after the African National Congress (ANC) suffered a significant electoral setback, securing 30.89% of the national vote, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) received 24.60% and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) emerged as the third-largest party with 9.61%.
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With only 72 of the country’s 213 municipal councils having outright majorities, political parties will have to negotiate governing arrangements in most municipalities.
Ramaphosa said the election results reflected the choices made by voters and called on parties to approach coalition negotiations with maturity, humility and a commitment to the public good.
“This is not a weakness of democracy. It is an expression of the choices that the people have made,” he said.
He warned that political disagreements should not undermine municipal stability or interrupt essential services.
“The stability of our municipalities cannot be sacrificed to narrow political interests. The delivery of essential services cannot be held hostage by political disagreements,” Ramaphosa said.
He said residents had not voted for their representatives to spend the next five years fighting among themselves but expected functioning councils, capable administrations and responsible leadership.
The president also urged political parties to ensure that municipal councils were constituted without delay and that negotiations resulted in the election of office-bearers so that municipalities could begin their work.
“Councils must be constituted without delay. Parties must negotiate in good faith to elect office-bearers so that councils can get to work. Budgets must be passed on time,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the incoming councillors would be responsible for addressing the everyday challenges facing communities, including unreliable water and electricity supply, poor roads, unemployment and inadequate municipal services.
He said people judged government by the changes they experienced in their daily lives rather than the promises made by political leaders.
“They want water to come out of the tap and electricity that works. They want their refuse collected, their parks maintained and their streets safe,” he said.
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The president also reminded newly elected councillors that winning a seat was not simply about occupying a position in a council chamber but about serving the communities that elected them.
He said public representatives had to put residents’ interests above personal ambition and political advantage.
“Your responsibility is to listen to their concerns, respond to their needs and act to address the concerns with honesty and integrity,” he said.
Ramaphosa’s address comes as the country marks 30 years since the Constitution was signed into law, with the president saying the election had once again demonstrated that the authority to govern rested with the people.
He said the authority to govern was not inherited, owned by a political party or the permanent possession of those holding public office.
“It is entrusted by the people to those whom they elect, and it must always be exercised in their interests,” he said.
He also acknowledged the difficult circumstances under which South Africans cast their ballots, including the high cost of living, unemployment, safety concerns and poor municipal services.
The president said these challenges had shaped voters’ political choices and placed an enormous responsibility on those elected to public office.
He further pointed to the revised White Paper on Local Government as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s municipalities, improve their finances and direct resources towards infrastructure maintenance and reliable service delivery.
Ramaphosa congratulated the newly elected councillors but said their work would be measured by whether they delivered on the expectations of residents.
“The election is now over. The work of serving the people must begin,” he said.
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