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02-07-2024
PRETORIA: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has unveiled a new coalition government, after his ruling African National Congress (ANC) party lost its parliamentary majority in May’s elections.
He said “the government of national unity… is unprecedented in the history of our democracy”.
The ANC will have 20 out of 32 cabinet posts, while the pro-market Democratic Alliance (DA) until now the main opposition party will hold six. Six other portfolios are shared amongst smaller parties.
These appointments followed weeks of tense negotiations that threatened to scupper the agreement at one point Ramaphosa had accused the DA of trying to create a “parallel government” in breach of the constitution.
The shrinking of ANC support in the elections reflected public frustration over its poor record on delivering basic services and tackling unemployment, poverty and corruption.
The ANC led by Nelson Mandela came to power in 1994, ending decades of white-minority rule in South Africa.
Some of its activists have criticized it for sharing power with the DA, which some see as representing white interests.
The coalition government was welcomed by the business community who said it would ensure economic stability, in contrast to a potential deal with two radical parties which have split off from the ANC.
In the new cabinet, the ANC will keep key ministries such as defence, finance, and also foreign affairs where it has been vocal in its support of the Palestinians and intensely critical of Israeli actions in Gaza. Outgoing Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has been replaced by Ronald Lamola, who was previously justice minister.
The DA’s portfolios include home affairs which controls immigration, as well as public works which has been at the centre of a series of corruption scandals. Party leader John Steenhuisen will lead the ministry of agriculture, a sector dominated by white farmers and corporations.
In a televised speech on Sunday, Ramaphosa said: “The incoming government will prioritize rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and creation of a more just society.”
Meanwhile, the DA said it was “proud to rise to the challenge and take our place, for the first time, at the seat of national government”.
It also pledged “good governance, zero tolerance for corruption and pragmatic policy-making”. Despite a coalition cabinet deal, stark political disagreements remain between the ANC and the DA.
Perhaps the biggest and most contentious issues are DA opposition to the ANC’s national healthcare policy and to its black economic empowerment program.
Crucially the ANC retains control of those government ministries mines, trade and land reform which are key to its policies on black economic empowerment.
In May’s elections the ANC got 40% of the vote, while the DA secured 22%.
South Africa once again has a national unity government, 30 years after a similar deal helped stabilize the transition to full democracy from a nation divided by the racist system of apartheid. This time the ruling African National Congress (ANC) was forced to negotiate an agreement after losing its controlling majority in elections.
It marks a landmark moment for the country, with the confirmation that the ANC’s new partners include the white-led Democratic Alliance, a pairing once considered unimaginable by many in South Africa. (Int’l News Desk)
