South Africa’s newly elected parliament convened on Friday, expected to re-elect President Cyril Ramaphosa as he forms an unprecedented coalition government following the ANC’s significant electoral losses.
John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), announced that his party had reached an agreement with the ANC to establish a multi-party coalition government. “The DA has reached an agreement on forming a government of national unity,” Steenhuisen stated, adding that the DA and the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) would support the coalition.
“We will be supporting President Cyril Ramaphosa in his election for the president of the republic of South Africa,” Steenhuisen confirmed during a break in the opening session of South Africa’s seventh parliament since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Earlier, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo opened the session, swearing in MPs ahead of votes for the speaker, deputy speaker, and president. Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) attended in red overalls, rubber boots, and plastic construction helmets, symbolizing their refusal to join a coalition with right-wing or white-led parties.
President Ramaphosa, the ANC’s fifth president in 30 years, called for a government of national unity after the party lost its absolute majority in last month’s election. However, the EFF and other leftist parties declined the offer.
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula anticipated that the government would “gravitate to the center” with support from the DA, the IFP, and other smaller groups. “We have reached a breakthrough on the common agreement that we need to work together,” Mbalula announced in Cape Town.
EFF leader Julius Malema, a former ANC youth leader advocating for the nationalization of land and certain businesses, stated that his party was not ready to align with right-wing parties.
Former President Jacob Zuma’s new party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), disputed the May 29 election results, leading its MPs to boycott the first sitting of the 400-member assembly.
Ramaphosa is expected to win the secret ballot to confirm his re-election, after which he will be sworn in next week in Pretoria and announce his new cabinet.
For three decades since the end of apartheid, Nelson Mandela’s ANC held an absolute majority, electing presidents from its own ranks. However, corruption and economic struggles have eroded its support, leaving it with only 159 seats. The coalition with the DA and IFP, which together hold 104 seats, secures a comfortable majority.
“At the heart of this government of national unity is a shared respect for our Constitution and the rule of law,” Steenhuisen said. The coalition agreement covers Johannesburg’s Gauteng province and KwaZulu-Natal and includes a consensus mechanism for resolving disagreements.
“This is not the end of the process. The road ahead will not be an easy one,” Steenhuisen noted, explaining that the two-week constitutional deadline for forming a government left little time to finalize all details.
Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist turned millionaire businessman, rose to power in 2018 after Zuma’s resignation amidst corruption allegations. Once praised by Mandela as a gifted leader, Ramaphosa played a crucial role in ending apartheid. However, his tenure has faced criticism, with unemployment reaching near-record levels and the ANC suffering its worst election results ever.
