The DA may need to go into coalitions in some councils in the Western Cape, with at least 12 hung councils revealed following the conclusion of vote counting in several municipalities. Earlier, the tally stood at 8 councils.
Vote counting has now been completed in a few more councils.
A hung council occurs when no single political party or coalition wins an outright majority (more than 50% of the seats) in a municipal council.
When this happens, political parties and councillors must negotiate how the municipality will be governed within the 14-day window required by law to hold the first council meeting.
An alternative to forming a coalition is ruling through Minority Government: A single party (or a group of parties) takes office and forms the executive/mayor’s office alone without a formal coalition agreement. They must govern with less than 50% of the seats.
The DA has failed to get a 50% majority in Matzikama, Witzenberg, Laingsburg, Kannaland, Cape Agulhas, Prince Albert, Oudtshoorn, Swellendam, Knysna, Saldanha Bay, Beaufort West and Langeberg. 100% of the counting has been concluded in these municipalities.
A snapshot of some of the hung councils:
Follow the IEC’s LIVE Dashboard HERE.
