On Friday, South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) announced an agreement to form a coalition government with its main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) after losing its 30-year parliamentary majority in a recent election.

Reuters

The coalition marks a historic shift in South African politics, which has never had a national-level coalition government, and has seen ANC in power since the end of apartheid in 1994.

The coalition marks a historic shift in South African politics, which has never had a national-level coalition government. The ANC has been in power since the end of apartheid in 1994.

The DA’s leader John Steenhuisen said in a statement in Cape Town on Frida

The DA’s leader John Steenhuisen announced the agreement in a statement in Cape Town on Friday, following two weeks of negotiations. The ANC's Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, confirmed the formation of the coalition as the new Parliament convened.

The DA’s leader John Steenhuisen announced the agreement in a statement in Cape Town on Friday, following two weeks of negotiations. The ANC's Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, confirmed the formation of the coalition as the new Parliament convened for the first time.

The DA’s leader John Steenhuisen announced the agreement following two weeks of negotiations. The ANC's Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, confirmed the formation of the coalition as the new Parliament convened for the first time.

No party managed to win an outright majority in last month's elections, with the ANC receiving 40.18% of the vote, the DA 21.8%, former President Jacob Zuma's newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) winning 14.59%, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) securing nearly 10%.

No party managed to win an outright majority in the elections last month, with the ANC having received 40.18% of the vote, the DA 21.8%, former President Jacob Zuma's newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) winning 14.59%, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) securing nearly 10%.

Under the unity government pact, President Cyril Ramaphosa, the leader of the ANC, is expected to win his second term as president, with support from the other parties.

US News & World Report

Under the unity government pact, President Cyril Ramaphosa, the leader of the ANC, is expected to win his second term as president with support from the other parties.

The deadline for Parliament to elect a president is Sunday, with the first session scheduled to take place Friday. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the new MK Party have declined to join the coalition and are expected to boycott the first meeting of the parliament, though this is unlikely to impact the vote for president.

The deadline for Parliament to elect a president is Sunday, with the first session scheduled to take place on Friday. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the new MK Party have declined to join the coalition and are expected to boycott the first meeting of the parliament, though this is unlikely to impact the vote for president.

Reuters #

CNN #3765

US News & World Report #

Hopefully this coalition will mark the start of a fruitful new chapter in South Africa's history. This move beyond divisive party politics will allow the government to focus more on collaboration and problem solving. This coalition will bring previously politically and racially divided parties together to better tackle the issues facing the country, and will also bring in more international investment, and economic stability.

Guardian

Guardian #2416

South Africa’s ANC pushing to set up coalition before election of president

South Africa's coalition government is likely to fail. The participating parties have numerous incompatibilities, public skepticism and distrust in the government are high, and the differing ideologies of the parties leaves the coalition to be ripe for leadership conflicts and internal divisions, and policy paralysis. The formation of this alliance has been shaky, and the future is uncharted and unknown.

Daily Maverick

Daily Maverick #

South Africa is ripe for a coalition government, but will it succeed?

Wikimedia Commons

South Africa’s Governing Alliance Emerges as the New Parliament Convenes

Politics

South Africa

Economic conditions & trends

This coalition should mark the start of a fruitful new chapter in South Africa's history. By moving beyond divisive party politics, the government can focus on collaboration and problem solving. This coalition will bring previously politically and racially divided parties together to better tackle the issues facing the country, and will also bring in more international investment and economic stability.

This coalition will likely fail. The participating parties have numerous incompatibilities, public skepticism and distrust in the government are high, and the differing ideologies of the parties leaves the coalition ripe for leadership conflicts, internal divisions, and policy paralysis. The formation of this alliance has been shaky, and the future is uncharted and unknown.

Coalition Emerges as New South African Parliament Convenes

SouthCoalition Africa’s Governing Alliance Emerges as the New South African Parliament Convenes

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Coalition Emerges as New South African Parliament Convenes

SouthCoalition Africa’s Governing Alliance Emerges as the New South African Parliament Convenes

The Spin

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