JOHANNESBURG: In what could be seen as a historic reunion after the peaceful end of apartheid rule, ex-enemies have found themselves in South Africa and are now vowing to bury their political differences for the good of the nation.
This is a huge shift in politics according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, as it was driven by public outcry over various problems ranging from unemployment and slow economic growth to corruption and collapsing infrastructure.
African National Congress, which led South Africa out of apartheid rule will govern together with Democratic Alliance, a party that is predominantly white- led. However, many black people in South Africa are not happy about that.
“ANC is siding with the enemy of progress,” Nathi Mboniswa, an ANC voting 25 years old said fearing that his party might compromise its principles if partnered with DA.
In the last month’s elections ANC faced disastrous results when angry voters did away with its thirty year majority. Having no option other than sharing power, Ramaphosa declared a government of national unity including parties across South Africa’s diverse political spectrum.
However, electoral calculus meant that the ANC had to bring at least one of its most significant rivals on board — business-friendly DA-Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), populist uMkhonto we Sizwe.
But these latter two were unwilling to participate in any government involving DA members.
After Ramaphosa’s re-election on Friday EFF leader Julius Malema used his allocated time for congratulations attacking this deal with DA instead.
“History will judge you and judge you harshly,” he said. “This is not a government of national unity. This is a grand coalition between the ANC and white monopoly capital.”
The DA rejects accusations that it represents the rich whites in South Africa and insists its economic reforms would benefit all citizens while wanting certain Black empowerment policies instituted by the ANC abolished.
Love for our people
Having spent three decades trying to dismantle ANC’s grip on power, the DA emerged from talks over the coalition as South Africa’s second largest party with a smile of victory.
According to its leader John Steenhuisen, “The DA takes this historic step forward out of our deep and abiding love for the people of this country,” pledging to amplify its success in traditional strongholds.
In contrast to the remainder of the country, Western Cape Province that has been under DA rule since 2009 has done considerably better with less unemployment, fewer hard blackouts and more investment.
However, persuading everyone else will be quite difficult.
For a nation with a painful racial past where whites account for just 7% of the population, it has proven challenging for DA to convincingly represent everyone’s aspirations.
Additionally, having an almost exclusively white nationalized leadership never helped matters either.
On Friday one senior official of DA- Helen Zille wrote “The melanin-quotient of the DA leader is the least significant aspect of this historic agreement” on X criticizing international media attention given to Steenhuisen’s race.
However, many South Africans are also concerned by small government free market policies that would leave 24 million – more than a third – depending on welfare system in South Africa.
Kabelo Phungwayo, a 22-year-old ANC supporter said, “I hope that the ANC can ensure that the progressive policies of the left are advocated for.”
“Totally wiped out”
ANC leadership has been struggling to appease its members over this.
Sources say details on how the coalition will work have not yet been finalized, according to Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. He went on to admit that if the DA had demanded everything from them then the ANC would be “dead”.
“We must be a revolutionary party” he said on Friday. “If we lose people we will all be wiped out.”
Although it is made up of two small parties among others, all sides continue calling it a government of national unity.
“The ANC is effectively running away from taking responsibility for getting into a coalition with the DA. So they then find the language to sanitise what is going on,” explained Lukhona Mnguni who works for Rivonia Circle, a Johannesburg-based think tank.
However, such actions may serve as an effective tool in silencing critics and putting any doubts related to joining forces with DA at bay.
This was particularly highlighted by last month’s elections showing that even many supporters of ANCs were tired of South Africa’s years in decline and wanted something new.
“This coalition marks the beginning of a new era where South African leaders put their differences aside,” explained Sandra Sholayan; 56-year-old communication manager from East London who voted for ANC candidate.
“We can achieve more together.”
