OUTA’s Community Action Network (CAN) will monitor the passage of the Coalition Bill through parliament, as this Bill could fundamentally impact local government and our democracy. Some changes could undermine municipal autonomy and voters' voices.  

According to Jonathan Erasmus, CAN Project Manager, CAN provided a comprehensive submission on the Bill, formally known as the Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill, to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).  

Erasmus explains that while the Bill aims to stabilise coalitions and claims to promote clarity, transparency, and accountability, its adoption could threaten the autonomy of municipalities, councillors and voters. “In essence, it can undermine our democracy.”  

For many people municipalities are the only place where they directly communicate with government. “We believe that municipalities must be stable, accountable and transparent. Equally, we believe that municipalities must be areas where democracy can be expressed,” said Erasmus.

CAN invited other civil society organisations, and the public to adopt this submission as their own, resulting in 74 submissions to CoGTA.

Major concerns with the amendments include:

• Political overreach into local government affairs from national and provincial ministerial levels.

• Excessive restrictions on the right to bring forward motions of no confidence against office bearers such as the mayor, deputy mayor, or speaker.

• The removal of the secret ballot option as a voting mechanism.

The Bill is still with the department and is expected to be introduced in parliament by the Minister of CoGTA, Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa.

CAN, in partnership with OUTA’s parliamentary office, will monitor its progress. “Where opportunities arise, CAN will continue to provide input and civic oversight,” Erasmus explained.  

Find out more about the Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill.