South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) announced on Thursday, June 13, 2024, that it has formed a coalition government with several parties after failing to secure a majority in the May general elections.
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula confirmed the coalition at a news conference on the eve of the new parliament’s first session.
“We have reached a breakthrough on the common agreement that we need to work together,” Mbalula said, adding that the government would “gravitate to the centre” following the exclusion of leftist parties from the coalition deal.
The coalition comprises the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the centre-left United Democratic Movement (UDM), and the right-wing Afrikaner Freedom Front Plus (FF+). Leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by Julius Malema, and the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, linked to former ANC president Jacob Zuma, were not included in the coalition. Other smaller groups, including Al Jama-ah, Rise Mzansi, and the National Coloured Congress, agreed to join with reservations.
This coalition is set to secure President Cyril Ramaphosa’s second term as lawmakers meet in Cape Town on Friday. The ANC, which has held an absolute majority for 30 years, saw its support dwindle to 159 seats in the recent election, necessitating this coalition to maintain governance.
In South Africa’s parliamentary system, the president is elected by the 400-member National Assembly and subsequently forms the executive government.
