South Africa’s new unity government now includes five parties, announced the African National Congress (ANC) on Monday. This coalition, which accounts for over two thirds of the National Assembly seats, follows recent elections where the ANC, for the first time since apartheid ended in 1994, did not secure a majority.
ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected as president with support from the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the Patriotic Alliance (PA), and now also includes the GOOD party.
Together, they hold 273 seats, constituting 68% of the 400-seat parliament.
The unity government aims to ensure representation from all participating parties in decision-making processes through consensus. Its agenda prioritizes economic growth, capital investment, job creation, land reform, and infrastructure development.
Despite these developments, the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, with 39 seats, has opted out of the government due to ideological differences with coalition members DA and the Freedom Front Plus.
Instead, the EFF joins other opposition parties in the Progressive Caucus, which includes the United Democratic Movement (UDM).
While the unity government promises potential for growth-oriented reforms, analysts caution about possible ideological conflicts within the ANC and challenges in forming a stable policy framework.
