South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the next term of Parliament will commence on July 18. This follows ongoing negotiations with various parties to finalize a Cabinet, highlighting rifts within the new coalition government.
For the past two weeks, Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-largest party, have been at odds over Cabinet appointments.
Correspondence between the two has been leaked, with Ramaphosa accusing DA leader John Steenhuisen of increasing demands from six to eight ministerial positions, potentially jeopardizing the coalition. Meanwhile, the DA claims the ANC reneged on a promise to grant it control of the Department of Trade and Industry.
Despite face-to-face discussions between Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen, tensions persist. Analysts have warned of the complexities in uniting the ideologically divergent ANC and DA, who have been adversaries for over two decades until the recent election on May 29. This election saw the ANC lose its parliamentary majority, securing only 40% of the vote, while the DA garnered 21%, necessitating a power-sharing arrangement.
The coalition, which also includes eight smaller parties, has been described as a government of national unity, though its success hinges on ANC and DA cooperation. Despite media speculation about the DA potentially withdrawing from the agreement, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula assured via social media that the final agreement was nearing completion and would benefit all South Africans.
The initial coalition agreement on June 14 positively impacted South Africa’s currency and investor confidence, facilitating Ramaphosa’s re-election for a second term with cross-party support. However, the delay in Cabinet formation has somewhat dampened initial optimism about resolving the country’s significant socioeconomic challenges, such as inequality and unemployment.
