Parliament, Monday, 9 November 2026 – The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration (Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements and Water and Sanitation), Mr Mxolisi Kaunda, has urged newly elected local government councillors to place developmental local government, stability and service delivery at the centre of their mandates following the conclusion of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Mr Kaunda said the newly elected councils have an opportunity to consolidate the gains made since the advent of democracy, while addressing persistent challenges and maladministration which have undermined the effectiveness of the local sphere of government.
“The local sphere of government is a critical cog in delivering quality services, as envisaged in Section 152 of the Constitution. Developmental municipalities must position themselves as centres of economic development, job creation and infrastructure development. The people of South Africa deserve functional municipalities that are responsive to their needs and capable of delivering basic services,” Mr Kaunda said.
He further highlighted that the 138 hung councils, out of a total of 257, present political parties with an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to putting the interests of communities above political considerations.
“It is important that political parties place the people at the centre of the negotiations. Every effort must be made to ensure that the coalitions that emerge prioritise the interests of communities over narrow political and selfish ambitions,” he emphasised.
The Chairperson also called on political parties to prioritise the formation of stable coalitions, warning that instability can undermine effective governance and compromise service delivery. He said stability, accountability, good governance and the delivery of quality services must underpin the incoming administrations.
Meanwhile, Mr Kaunda commended the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) for its work in administering the 2026 Local Government Elections, describing the institution as a credible and capable custodian of South Africa’s electoral democracy.
“While a comprehensive analysis of the elections will be undertaken in due course, the IEC has once again demonstrated its capacity to administer complex and extensive elections. Its continued contribution to safeguarding South Africa’s democracy is commendable,” he said.
As political parties embark on coalition negotiations, Mr Kaunda wished them well and urged them to ensure that the interests and aspirations of the people remain their foremost consideration.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, MR MXOLISI KAUNDA.
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