The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has announced its decision to participate in a government of national unity in South Africa. This coalition will include the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), marking a historic moment in the nation’s political landscape.
Velenkosini Hlabisa, the leader of the IFP, made the announcement at a media briefing in Durban on Wednesday. “The only options were to become part of the government, or part of the opposition,” Hlabisa stated. “The people of South Africa who voted said that political parties must find a common ground.”
This move comes in the wake of last month’s elections, where the ANC lost its majority for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994. The ANC secured around 40% of the vote, a sharp decline from previous elections, prompting the need for coalition partners to form a stable government.
The new parliament is set to be sworn in on Friday, where a president will be elected. The ANC, led by Cyril Ramaphosa, hopes to have finalized the coalition deal by then. Despite the decline in their vote share, the ANC insists that Ramaphosa must continue as the country’s leader.
The decision by the IFP to join the unity government is the first official confirmation of such a coalition. However, neither the DA nor the ANC have yet commented on the announcement.
The ANC has been actively engaging with all opposition parties to form a unity government. The DA, with 22% of the vote, emerged as the largest opposition party, followed by the MK party of former President Jacob Zuma at 15%, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) at 9%. The IFP secured about 4% of the vote.
Many ANC activists had preferred a coalition with the EFF and MK, both of which are led by former senior ANC officials. However, such a coalition would likely unsettle investors due to their radical economic policies, including the expropriation of white-owned land without compensation and the nationalization of mines.
The business community has expressed a preference for a coalition between the ANC and the DA, viewing it as a more stable and investor-friendly option. Including the IFP in the coalition may help to mitigate criticism that the ANC is “selling out” by partnering with the DA, which some perceive as representing the white minority.
The DA has opposed two of the ANC’s key policies: the black empowerment programme, designed to redress economic imbalances from the apartheid era, and the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, which promises universal healthcare.
This coalition represents a significant shift in South African politics. The ANC, which has dominated the political scene since Nelson Mandela’s victory in 1994, now finds itself navigating a more fragmented and competitive landscape. The formation of a unity government is a testament to the evolving nature of the country’s democracy.
South Africans are now looking ahead to the swearing-in of the new parliament and the election of the president. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the country’s leaders must find ways to work together to address the pressing issues facing the nation.
This moment of unity and cooperation among diverse political parties could herald a new era for South Africa, one that prioritizes the common good and reflects the will of its people.
