ANC Coalition Strategy: Central Oversight with Provincial Flexibility, Says Limpopo Premier
In a recent interview with Business Day, Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba outlined how the African National Congress (ANC) should handle coalition negotiations ahead of the 2025 local elections. She argued that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) must retain ultimate authority over coalition agreements, while allowing provincial structures to adapt those agreements to local realities.
Why Limpopo Stands Apart
Limpopo delivered the ANC’s strongest provincial performance in the 2024 national elections, securing 74 % of the vote and maintaining an absolute majority in virtually all of its municipalities. Ramathuba noted that this electoral strength gives the province a unique position to avoid the power‑sharing arrangements that have plagued other regions.
She contrasted Limpopo’s situation with Gauteng, where Johannesburg has experienced coalitions involving as many as 15 parties since 2016. According to Ramathuba, those fragmented alliances have coincided with a noticeable decline in service delivery, a trend she wants Limpopo to steer clear of.
National Leadership’s Role in Coalition Negotiations
The premier stressed that the NEC should “centralize coalition negotiations under its national leadership” because the committee bears ultimate responsibility for the party’s electoral outcomes. “When something goes wrong, the blame lies with the NEC,” she said, adding that provincial branches must be prepared to explain where the NEC stood when decisions were made.
Ramathuba pointed out that the ANC’s existing structures already provide a conduit for provincial input: provincial chairpersons and secretaries sit on the NEC, ensuring that local perspectives are heard while national oversight remains intact.
Lessons from Gauteng and Johannesburg
Johannesburg’s experience serves as a cautionary tale. Since 2016, the city’s council has shifted through multiple coalition configurations, often involving small parties with divergent priorities. Observers have linked this instability to:
- Frequent changes in municipal leadership.
- Delays in infrastructure projects.
- Declining public trust in service delivery.
Ramathuba warned that replicating such a model in Limpopo could undermine the province’s recent gains in water provision, road maintenance, and job‑creation programmes.
Financial Accountability and Treasury Scrutiny
The national Treasury has intensified its oversight of municipal finances, temporarily withholding equitable‑share transfers from municipalities that fail to meet financial‑management standards. In July 2024, the Finance Ministry announced a temporary allocation of 13.5 billion rand in equitable share, which includes several Limpopo municipalities such as Fetakgomo Tubatse, Musina, Thabazimbi, and Modimolle‑Mookgophong, as well as the Mopani district municipality.
Ramathuba linked financial discipline to political accountability, stating that “if you take the president and make him look like he’s lying to the public, heads will roll.” She emphasized that the ANC must ensure that provincial leaders adhere to Treasury requirements to avoid further fund suspensions.
Looking Ahead to the 2025 Local Elections
With the ANC having lost its national majority in 2024, the party is focusing on rebuilding its grassroots support ahead of the upcoming local polls. Ramathuba reiterated that the immediate priority is the election campaign, dismissing speculation about potential successors to President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2027 as a distraction.
Her administration continues to prioritize water security, road upgrades, and job creation, while strengthening oversight through district development forums and targeted service‑delivery interventions. By aligning national coalition strategy with provincial flexibility, the ANC hopes to present a united front that respects local conditions without sacrificing electoral coherence.
