The African National Congress (ANC) was in discussions with other political parties on Thursday to finalise arrangements for South Africa’s next government, as the newly elected parliament was set to convene on Friday.
Following the May 29 election, where the ANC lost its majority after 30 years in power since the end of apartheid, the country entered a period of political uncertainty, marking a significant shift in its democratic landscape.
Scheduled for Friday in Cape Town, lawmakers are preparing to convene to elect their speaker, deputy speaker, and the country’s president, placing significant pressure on the ANC and other parties to finalise their governing arrangements. The parties are expected to announce their decision on Thursday evening.
While President Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to secure another term, the specific composition of the new government remains uncertain. At the Cape Sun hotel, ANC leaders gathered to strategize.
When asked by a Reuters reporter about his outlook on the talks’ outcome, Ramaphosa responded with a silent gesture, drawing his fingers across his lips.
Last week, the ANC expressed its preference for a broad-based government of national unity, engaging in discussions with a spectrum of parties from the pro-business Democratic Alliance (DA) to the hard-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The most definitive statement so far regarding potential coalition partners emerged from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which announced on Wednesday its readiness to join forces with the ANC and DA in a governing alliance.
However, neither of these parties has officially confirmed an agreement to govern collectively.
The ANC continues to lead as the largest party in the National Assembly with 159 out of 400 seats.
The DA follows closely with 87 seats, while the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, holds 58 seats.
In fourth place is the EFF with 39 seats, led by former ANC youth leader Julius Malema, and the IFP holds the fifth position with 17 seats.
If confirmed, a government involving the DA would likely receive support from big business and financial markets due to its advocacy for free-market policies.
Nevertheless, such a government would face opposition from many ANC supporters who view the DA as aligned with the interests of the privileged white minority—a contentious issue in a country still grappling with the legacy of colonialism and apartheid.
Moreover, including the DA in the government would preclude support from the EFF, as Malema’s party and the DA are staunch adversaries.
“We have explicitly conveyed to the president that we do not oppose a government of national unity; our objection lies in the inclusion of the DA and the (far-right) Freedom Front Plus,” Malema told reporters in Cape Town.
“The DA is our enemy,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, the DA has categorically rejected forming a government with the EFF, whose agenda includes land expropriation from white landowners and the nationalisation of banks and mines.
Political analysts speculate that integrating the IFP, a socially conservative party with a strong ethnic Zulu constituency, could potentially make the pill of including the DA more palatable to ANC grassroots supporters.
The ANC’s National Executive Committee convened in Cape Town from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. (1430-1700 GMT) to assess the outcome of negotiations with other parties and make crucial decisions. Following the meeting, the ANC was expected to provide an update to the press.
A significant source of uncertainty revolves around the stance of Zuma’s party, MK, which unexpectedly secured a strong third place in the election.
Despite this, MK has alleged electoral fraud and has threatened to boycott the new parliament.
MK took its case to the Constitutional Court, seeking to halt the parliament’s convening, but the court dismissed the application on Wednesday, deeming it baseless.
The ANC and other parties have indicated that they reached out to MK, but MK showed little interest.
Therefore, unless there is a significant change, MK is not expected to be part of the national government.
Nevertheless, MK’s strong electoral performance in Zuma’s home province of populous KwaZulu-Natal cannot be overlooked.
MK garnered 45.4% of the provincial vote in KwaZulu-Natal, where the economically vital ports of Durban and Richard’s Bay are situated.
This marked a decisive victory over the IFP, which received 18.1%, and the ANC, which came in third with 17.0%.
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