President Cyril Ramaphosa and then president Nelson Mandela in 1994. Ramaphosa and deputy president Paul Mashatile at the ANC NEC meeting on Thursday, 6 June 2024.. Pictures: Gallo Images and X/ MyANC
South Africans are still in the dark about the immediate future of a Government of National Unity. Here’s what to know.Following the outcome of an 11-hour special meeting of the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the ruling party will seek to form a Government of National Unity (GNU) that will include multiple parties.
While the ANC remains the largest party in South Africa, winning 40.2% of the vote in the 29 May general election, it now has only 159 seats, 42 short of a majority, in the 400-seat National Assembly.
The president said the ANC believes to establish a GNU would be the “best way forward” to overcome the political deadlock of a hung Parliament, as well as the party’s hung provinces.
Government of National Unity one of three options
According to the Daily Maverick, a GNU is one of three of the “safe” power-sharing options that has been on the table all week. The other two being:
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A coalition agreement with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP); or
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A looser confidence-and-supply agreement with the DA and IFP.