South Africa’s ANC Faces Critical Decision After Parliamentary Loss
Following a significant decline in parliamentary seats, the African National Congress (ANC) confronts a pivotal crossroads determining South Africa’s trajectory. Securing a mere 40% of the vote prompts the ANC to seek coalition partners for parliamentary dominance, essential for presidential selection and legislative agendas.
Options abound, each laden with political risks. Partnering with the center-right Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-largest party with 22% of the vote, presents challenges. Critics accuse the DA of perpetuating economic disparities from apartheid, a charge the party refutes.
Alternatively, aligning with splinter parties like former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) or Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) seems feasible. These factions, appealing to the black majority, collectively garner 65% of the vote. Malema warns against reinforcing white dominance, cautioning against a DA coalition.
President Cyril Ramaphosa advocates for any coalition within the constitutional framework. However, the DA’s staunch opposition to ANC’s welfare initiatives, including a government-funded health service, presents a significant hurdle. The DA champions free-market principles, opposing ANC’s empowerment policies, alleging favoritism toward ANC affiliates.
ANC’s resolve on empowerment policies seems unwavering, with chairman Gwede Mantashe deeming them non-negotiable, potentially precluding a DA coalition. Nonetheless, reports suggest President Ramaphosa’s openness to bridge policy divides with the DA.
To navigate racial sensitivities, a Government of National Unity (GNU) incorporating diverse parties like the mainly black Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Good party, representing the colored community, could emerge as a compromise solution.