Mandy Wiener | Instability and trade-offs: Beware coalition govts and the high cost for citizens

As the municipal election gets closer, we need to listen carefully to politicans. Are they willing to do anything to stay in power, including considering coalitions? And at what cost? asks Mandy Wiener. 

Considering South Africa's first government in 1994 was a much-hyped "government of national unity", you would think we would be pros at the art of coalition politics. Yet, it is quite the opposite. 

South Africa has a fraught history of coalition politics. In short – they have proven to be a disaster for citizens, for the administration and for getting anything done properly and in a hurry.