South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that Parliament will open its next term on July 18. He is currently negotiating with other parties to form a Cabinet amid tensions in the new governing coalition.
The coalition talks have lasted two weeks, with disagreements between Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) over ministerial positions and portfolios.
Leaked correspondence has revealed the friction between the ANC and DA. In one letter, Ramaphosa accused DA leader John Steenhuisen of “moving the goalposts” by increasing demands from six to eight Cabinet positions, jeopardizing the coalition agreement.
The DA, on the other hand, claims the ANC broke a promise to let it control the Department of Trade and Industry.
Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen have had face-to-face meetings recently. Analysts have warned that a coalition between the ANC and DA, former political adversaries with starkly different ideologies, would be complicated.
The May 29 election ended the ANC’s long-held dominance, forcing it to share power for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994. The ANC secured 40% of the vote, while the DA won 21%.
Although eight smaller parties have joined the coalition, the success of this government of national unity hinges on the ANC and DA finding common ground.
South African media has speculated that the DA might abandon the agreement, but ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula reassured on social media that the final agreement is nearly complete and will benefit all South Africans.
Investor confidence rose after the ANC and DA signed a preliminary coalition agreement on June 14, allowing Ramaphosa’s reelection.
While the coalition was seen as a new era of political unity aimed at addressing South Africa’s socioeconomic issues, the delay in forming a Cabinet has dampened some of the initial optimism.
