South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) is depending on support from its long-time opposition rivals to keep the party’s nearly three-decade grip on power and secure Cyril Ramaphosa a second term as president.
The ANC fell well short of an outright majority in last month’s national elections, disrupting its continuous reign over South African politics since the end of apartheid in 1994. This forced the former liberation movement to urgently negotiate coalitions to stay in government.
It comes amid the swearing in of new parliamentarians for the country’s 7th Parliament
On Friday, as the newly elected Parliament convened in Cape Town, the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) announced it had formally signed a coalition pact with the ANC. A key condition was that Ramaphosa, 71, would be re-elected as president when MPs vote later in the day.
“Today marks the beginning of a new era where we put our differences aside and unite for the betterment of all South Africans,” said ANC official Sihle Zikalala, framing the coalition as an opportunity to revisit past policy failures.
With the DA’s support, combining 21% of parliamentary seats with the ANC’s 40% share, Ramaphosa is virtually assured of securing another 5-year term when legislators vote. Two smaller parties – the Inkatha Freedom Party and Patriotic Alliance – have also joined the multi-party governing alliance.
It marks a seismic shift for South African politics largely defined by the ANC’s consolidation of power over the past 29 years, during which it has been the only party to govern nationally since transitioning from apartheid.
The DA and its predecessors grew as the main voice of liberal opposition, positioning itself as a pro-market, anti-corruption counterweight to the ANC’s socialist-inspired policies.
However, the DA’s decision to now ally itself with its long-time rival has sparked a backlash, with critics accusing it of betraying core principles in exchange for cabinet positions.
For the ANC, the deals to remain in power hand Ramaphosa a new chance to accelerate reforms reviving a stagnant economy, tackle endemic corruption, and rebuild failing public services after years of missteps.
But governing will require holding together an ideologically diverse coalition skeptical of the ANC’s recent policy direction.
Ramaphosa could have a smooth passage to a second term if he is the only candidate nominated, in which case he would be elected automatically. But if other candidates are nominated by other parties, a vote follows.
The lack of an outright winner has plunged Africa’s most industrialized nation into uncharted political terrain not seen since its 1994 transition to multi-party democracy under Nelson Mandela’s ANC.
Friday’s proceedings were also historic for being held at a convention center after a 2022 fire gutted Parliament’s chamber buildings.
While the ANC has retained power through the coalition, its former foes in the DA will now determine whether Ramaphosa’s second term proves a success or continuation of South Africa’s recent strife over high unemployment, electricity blackouts, and corruption allegations.
The former union leader and wealthy businessman has pledged a new commitment to ethical leadership and service delivery. But he must now govern in an unfamiliar context of compromise with ideological opponents who spent years trying to unseat his party.
Whether the unlikely alliance can hold and translate Ramaphosa’s reform vision into reality will be an early litmus test for South Africa’s new era of partnership politics emerging from its latest electoral shake-up.
