South Africa’s newly-elected parliament convened on Friday to re-elect President Cyril Ramaphosa. This marks a historic moment as the African National Congress (ANC) forms an unprecedented coalition government after losing its absolute majority in the recent general election.
The ANC, led by Ramaphosa, has forged a coalition with the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and several smaller parties. This coalition comes in the wake of the ANC’s significant loss, securing only 159 out of 400 seats in the May 29 election.
Despite Ramaphosa’s initial call for a government of national unity, major leftist parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), refused to join the coalition. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula announced the coalition deal, emphasizing a shift towards the political centre. “We have reached a breakthrough on the common agreement that we need to work together,” Mbalula stated at a press conference in Cape Town.
The re-election process is not without contention. Former president Jacob Zuma’s new party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), has disputed the election results, threatening to boycott the parliamentary session. Although the ANC is in talks with MK, no agreement has been reached. The boycott, if it proceeds, could impact the dynamics within the assembly.
Despite the challenges, Ramaphosa is anticipated to win the secret ballot among MPs, leading to his re-election. Following his expected victory, Ramaphosa will be sworn in next week in Pretoria, where he will unveil his new cabinet. This cabinet is expected to include members from both the ANC and its new coalition partners, reflecting a broad-based approach to governance.
This development signifies a pivotal shift in South African politics. For three decades, since the end of apartheid, the ANC has maintained an absolute majority, consistently electing a president from its ranks. However, the party has been weakened by corruption scandals and poor economic performance, leading to a dramatic drop in support.
Political analyst Dr. Hlengiwe Ndlovu from Wits University School of Governance described the situation as more of “coalition talks” rather than a true government of national unity. “The ANC is going into this under the guise of a government of national unity, but really it isn’t,” she remarked, highlighting the practical challenges ahead for the coalition government.
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