South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) is in a race against time to finalise a coalition government deal before parliament chooses the country’s president on Friday.
The ANC lost its parliamentary majority in the May 29 elections for the first time since it swept to power in 1994 at the end of apartheid steering into uncharted territory. Its vote share dropped from 57.5% in 2019 to 40%, as supporters made different choices amid severe unemployment, socio-economic and worsening infrastructure.
However, on Thursday, the party’s chairman, Fikile Mbalula announced that it had entered a deal with the second-largest party, the pro-business Democratic Alliance (DA), to be part of a proposed “government of national unity” (GNU).
The DA received almost 22% of the vote. Still, many black South Africans and even members within the ANC are reluctant to enter a deal with the party, saying it favours the interests of the smaller white minority, something the party denies.
Meanwhile, a DA spokesperson, Solly Malatsi, said: “For as long as there isn’t a signed deal nothing is conclusive yet.”
The far-left Economic Freedom Fighters has said it will not join a government with the “racist” DA.
Mbalula disclosed that the ANC is engaging all parties represented in parliament and revealed that about seven other smaller parties were likely to come on board.
The Zulu Inkatha Freedom Party, and the Patriotic Alliance, which aims to restore the death penalty and deport illegal immigrants, have said they will join the government.
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which came a surprise third in the election despite being launched last December by former president Jacob Zuma, insists its MPs will not be sworn into parliament after the legal challenge it launched to stall Friday’s election was rejected by the country’s top court.
It has also said it will not work with the ANC while it is led by Ramaphosa.
Parliament will also elect a speaker and deputy speaker on Friday.