President Cyril Ramaphosa called on all political parties to prioritise community interests and the delivery of essential services above political power struggles following the 2026 Local Government Elections held on 4 November. Speaking at the IEC Results Operations Centre in Midrand on Sunday, 8 November 2026, Ramaphosa stressed that political disagreements must not delay the establishment of municipal governments or disrupt service delivery.
Ramaphosa emphasised that municipalities without a clear majority will require parties to cooperate and negotiate in good faith to form functional councils. “Councils must be constituted without delay. Parties must negotiate in good faith to elect office-bearers so that councils can get to work,” he said.
Highlighting the urgency, the President said, “The stability of our municipalities cannot be sacrificed to narrow political interests. The delivery of essential services cannot be held hostage by political disagreements.” His remarks echo concerns that coalition negotiations after the elections can slow down the passing of budgets and disrupt day-to-day services such as water supply, electricity, refuse removal, and street maintenance.
During the announcement, Ramaphosa reminded new councillors of their responsibility to the communities they serve, not just their political parties. He said, “The election is now over. The work of serving the people must begin.” Independent coverage by News24 reported that the President made it clear new councillors must put residents’ interests above personal and political advantages.
The 2026 Local Government Elections, including special votes on 2 and 3 November, provided citizens a platform to influence service delivery within their communities, the Presidency stated. The announcement also referred to the revised White Paper on Local Government, calling for stronger municipal administration to improve governance and service outcomes.
While several municipalities resulted in hung councils, no specific local governments in the Western Cape or Cape Flats were singled out in Ramaphosa’s address. Any claims about particular coalition deals or mayoral outcomes remain unverified.
South Africans watching the election results closely will be monitoring how quickly councils are constituted, budgets passed, and service delivery restored or improved. Ramaphosa’s call underlines the critical link between political cooperation and improving daily living conditions at a local level.
The Cape Flats news team will continue tracking municipal developments and coalition negotiations following this election to report on how political dynamics impact service delivery in the region.