The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has announced an electoral cooperation agreement with the African Transformation Movement (ATM) in the City of Johannesburg, urging its supporters to vote for the ATM on the proportional representation (PR) ballot while retaining its own candidates on the ward ballot.
The decision comes after the UDM was unable to participate in the PR ballot in Johannesburg in the November 4 local government elections.
In a statement on Wednesday, UDM secretary-general Bulelani Bobotyane said the party had decided to support the ATM on the PR ballot, while its ward councillor candidates would continue contesting under the UDM banner.
The arrangement means UDM supporters will have to distinguish between the two ballots when casting their votes: the UDM on the ward ballot and the ATM on the proportional representation ballot.
“The UDM remains on the Ward ballot, where its ward councillor candidates will continue contesting the elections under the UDM banner,” Bobotyane said.
He said the decision followed circumstances that had prevented the party from participating in the PR contest in Johannesburg.
The announcement introduces an electoral arrangement between the two parties in one of South Africa’s most politically contested metropolitan municipalities, where competition for council representation is expected to be intense.
Bobotyane said the decision was informed by a longstanding working relationship between the UDM and ATM in Johannesburg, where the parties had cooperated on governance, service delivery and issues affecting residents.
The UDM views the arrangement as an opportunity to strengthen that relationship and establish a more structured working agreement with the ATM.
The parties intend to use the cooperation to advance shared priorities, strengthen their representation in the City of Johannesburg council and improve their ability to respond to challenges facing communities.
However, the UDM was quick to clarify that the arrangement does not amount to a political merger between the two organisations.
Both parties will retain their separate political identities, leadership structures and constitutional mandates.
“This decision does not constitute a merger between the two political parties. The UDM and ATM remain independent political organisations, each retaining its identity, leadership and constitutional mandate,” Bobotyane said.
The clarification is significant as the electoral cooperation could lead to confusion among voters about whether the two organisations are contesting the elections as a single political entity.
The UDM said its ward candidates remained committed to their campaigns and would continue seeking support from residents in their respective communities.
The party also maintained that its broader commitment to building a local government that is consistent, present and accountable remained unchanged.
Johannesburg has faced persistent challenges around service delivery, including water and electricity interruptions, infrastructure deterioration, waste removal and concerns about municipal accountability.
The city council’s political composition has also been characterised by shifting alliances and coalition arrangements, making political cooperation between smaller parties potentially significant in determining the balance of power.
For the UDM, supporting the ATM on the PR ballot provides an electoral route to maintain a political presence in council despite its inability to contest that particular ballot.
The party said it would continue engaging the ATM on practical arrangements to formalise the cooperation, with the stated intention of improving governance and service delivery.
The announcement comes as Johannesburg residents cast their ballots to elect political representatives who will oversee the municipality for the next five years.
The UDM has urged its supporters to back its ward candidates while voting for the ATM on the PR ballot, effectively dividing its electoral support between the two parties.
Whether the arrangement translates into stronger council representation for the two organisations will depend on the outcome of Wednesday’s elections.
