The two major political parties in South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), are stuck in an unhappy marriage, with neither side willing to file for divorce. The Government of National Unity (GNU), formed after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in last year’s elections, has been marked by cross words and power struggles.
Despite their differences, the two leaders, President Cyril Ramaphosa and DA leader John Steenhuisen, have shown moments of unity, particularly during their confrontation with US President Donald Trump in May.
The GNU’s stability is crucial for South Africa’s economic growth and stability, with big business welcoming the alliance between the two historically opposed parties. However, their partnership is fraught with challenges, including the ANC’s push for transformation and the DA’s resistance.
According to Dr. Levy Ndou, a political analyst, “This GNU… does not mean that the ANC or DA will change their characters. The ANC will always want to push the transformation agenda, the DA will always come with pushback strategies and… that will be a permanent source of conflict in the GNU.”
Recent crises have further strained the relationship, including Ramaphosa’s sacking of DA deputy minister Andrew Whitfield and the ANC’s decision to push ahead with contentious legislation, such as the Expropriation Act, without consulting the DA. Steenhuisen has been vocal about his discontent, criticizing Ramaphosa’s leadership and accusing him of failing to address corruption within the ANC.
“The president’s refusal to act against corruption within his own ranks, but singling out as a priority a DA minister risks confirming that his oft-repeated public commitment to clean governance is a sham,” Steenhuisen said.
The DA’s ultimatum to Ramaphosa to remove certain ANC members accused of corruption, including Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, has not been met, leading to further tensions. Despite these challenges, both parties seem reluctant to dissolve the coalition, fearing voter backlash. Dr. Ndou suggests Ramaphosa may be playing it diplomatically, not wanting to initiate a divorce because the ANC would not want “everyone to say they have kicked the DA out of government.”
The future of the GNU remains uncertain, with Steenhuisen cautioning that the DA might launch a motion of no confidence in the president in parliament. Ramaphosa’s leadership is being tested, and the coalition’s stability hangs in the balance.
As Steenhuisen noted, “It is clear that the DA is in the process of losing confidence in the president’s ability to act as a leader not only of the ANC, but of the GNU of which we are the second largest component.” Only time will tell if this marriage of convenience will endure or if the parties will go their separate ways.