In a groundbreaking move, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have signed a framework agreement to establish a government of national unity (GNU). This landmark coalition, which also includes the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), was signed by party representatives on Friday during a break at the first sitting of the National Assembly at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
The agreement, which is not yet public, ensures the DA’s support for the re-election of President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second term. In exchange, the DA will receive the position of deputy speaker of parliament, while the ANC will retain the speaker position, according to reports by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and TimesLive.
As Members of Parliament were sworn in before the presidential vote, local media reported that forming a new coalition cabinet might take longer. The legislative session took place at a convention centre in Cape Town, with the parliament buildings still under renovation following a fire in 2022.
The ANC, which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994, lost its parliamentary majority in the May 29 elections for the first time. The party’s vote share dropped from 57.5% in 2019 to 40%, as voters defected to breakaway parties amid ongoing issues of unemployment and deteriorating public services.
Last week, President Ramaphosa called for parties to join a “government of national unity” (GNU). His faction of the ANC has shown a preference for collaborating with the DA, a move favored by major businesses and international investors. Despite receiving nearly 22% of the vote, the DA is often perceived as favoring the interests of South Africa’s white minority, a claim the party denies.
“We’ve engaged with the DA. We agree on the GNU,” ANC chair Fikile Mbalula announced at a press conference on Thursday. He listed seven other smaller parties that are either onboard with the coalition or expected to join it.
The formation of this coalition government represents a significant shift in South Africa’s political landscape.