South Africa

A new political era dawns

Cyril Ramaphosa secures second term in office despite historic election defeat. But the ANC now has to share power.

The election on May 29, 2024 marked a historic turning point in South Africa's young democracy: the African National Congress (ANC), the former party of freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years. In future, South Africa will be led by a government of national unity. The agreement signed in the early hours of June 14 by the ANC, the liberal Democratic Alliance (DA) and the socially conservative Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) laid the foundations for a coalition government committed to constitutional fidelity, the rule of law, social justice and the fight against poverty. The spectre of a left-wing populist alliance between the ANC and the Marxist-Leninist Economic Freedom Fighters, which has unsettled the markets in recent weeks, has been banished for the time being.

First session of the National Assembly

Last Friday, the newly elected National Assembly convened for its first session. This constituent session, at which the members of parliament were sworn in and key positions filled, marked the beginning of a new era. The days of the ANC ruling alone are over. Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected for a second term, but this time with the support of the former opposition parties DA and IFP. Thoko Didiza (ANC) and Annelie Lotriet (DA) became Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament respectively. These personnel decisions are intended to ensure the stability of the new government and underline the historic election result: broad and integrative cooperation between the parties is essential in order to lead crisis-ridden South Africa to sustainable political and economic stability. In addition, the government of national unity could help Ramaphosa become the first president since the end of apartheid to serve a full second term. His predecessors Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki were denied this opportunity.

Coalition formation, a historic milestone for South Africa

The formation of the GNU represents a historic milestone in South African politics. It lays the foundation for governance based on broad consensus to ensure the stability and progress of the country. The inclusion of the DA strengthens the liberal voice in the country's political spectrum. By filling the position of Deputy Speaker of Parliament, the DA has assumed a key role and can now significantly influence the direction of the new government policy. Party leader Helen Zille emphasized: "We are facing an unprecedented opportunity to bring liberal values into government, laying the foundations for a fairer and more prosperous society." Furthermore, there are signs that the government of national unity could also set an example at local level in those provinces where no party has achieved a clear majority.

New government, old challenges

The new government faces a number of significant challenges: The fight against poverty, unemployment and social inequality, which continue to shape the lives of many South Africans, is central to this. These issues are closely connected and require a comprehensive, coherent strategy to narrow the gap between the different social classes. At the same time, the government must overcome internal differences of opinion between the coalition partners, for example on foreign policy issues such as the stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, and ensure stable governance. Support could come from some smaller parties, which could potentially take on roles in the GNU.

At the same time, the government is threatened by an aggressive and manipulative opposition that is trying to undermine stability through populist promises. The radical positions of former President Zuma's MK party and the populist Economic Freedom Fighters pose a particular threat to the unity and coherence of the new government. The EFF promised the expropriation of large landowners without compensation and the nationalization of banks and mines. The MK party made groundless accusations of electoral fraud. Its 58 MPs stayed away from the first parliamentary session after unsuccessfully attempting to challenge the election results and prohibit the parliamentary session in court.

Important points of the intergovernmental agreement

The 7-page agreement emphasizes the indispensable principles of adherence to the constitution and the rule of law. The document also underlines the rejection of racism and gender inequality. The coalition partners undertake to implement the following key points:

• The coalition is committed to fighting poverty and social injustice. Poverty is to be reduced and social justice promoted through targeted economic and social programs. The coalition is planning measures aimed at improving the living conditions of disadvantaged sections of the population and reducing the gap between rich and poor.
• A central element of the agreement is the establishment of a transparent and accountable system of government. The population's trust in the government is to be strengthened. At the same time, the aim is to ensure that political decisions are made for the benefit of society as a whole.
• Executive posts are distributed according to the election results. This distribution ensures that the various political perspectives are represented in the government and enables balanced decision-making.

The GNU will initiate a comprehensive national dialog process to promote the participation of civil society, business and other social actors. The aim is to develop a national consensus that addresses the country's challenges and sets the course for sustainable development.

A breath of fresh air for South Africa?

The formation of a government of national unity in South Africa therefore poses significant challenges. It offers a unique opportunity to consolidate political stability and boost economic development by creating a broad basis for effective governance. At the same time, however, it must reconcile the sometimes divergent political goals of the coalition partners and work together to find sustainable solutions to pressing social problems. The long-standing FNF partner party Democratic Alliance plays a key role here. As a liberal force, it can incorporate its convictions on the rule of law and economic freedom into national policy in order to shape a fairer and more prosperous society.

The coalition parties are facing a mammoth task. They must win back the trust of an increasingly alienated electorate and, in a difficult balancing act, build bridges between the various political camps and quickly tackle the pressing social and economic problems.

South Africa is living through a historic moment in which not only the democratic structures are being reorganized, but also the social contract of this still young democracy is being reconsidered. This is a unique opportunity to strengthen South Africa's democratic culture and create a stable foundation for a prosperous future.