In recent times, the news has been dominated by failing coalition governments in South Africa's metros.
The Supreme Court ruling in October that the executive mayor of Johannesburg, Dr Mpho Phalatse, was removed illegally in a decision made by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council, is a case in point.
People are now asking whether the instability of coalitions will become the norm, with coalition governments being contemplated not only in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, but also in smaller, rural municipalities.
The usual