South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected for a second term in parliament, following a dramatic political shift that saw his governing party enter a coalition with long-time rival, the Democratic Alliance, in a move widely described as one of the most significant realignments in post-apartheid politics.
Ramaphosa secured victory in the parliamentary vote with 283 votes, comfortably defeating Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, who received 44 votes. The result came just hours after the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance reached an agreement to form a national coalition government, ending decades of political hostility between the two parties.
A Historic Coalition Between Rivals
The coalition deal marks the first time the ANC has formally governed alongside the Democratic Alliance at national level. The agreement followed the ANC’s loss of its outright parliamentary majority in the May elections, a watershed moment that ended its uninterrupted dominance since the end of apartheid in 1994.
The ANC’s share of the vote fell sharply to around 40 percent, down from 57.5 percent in 2019, reflecting growing voter dissatisfaction over unemployment, inequality, and deteriorating public services. The Democratic Alliance, which won roughly 22 percent of the vote, emerged as the second-largest party and positioned itself as a central partner in the new governing arrangement.
Under the agreement, the DA pledged to support Ramaphosa’s re-election and also back the ANC candidate for speaker of parliament. In return, the DA secured the position of deputy speaker and influence over policy negotiations, according to party leader John Steenhuisen.
Political Realignment And Policy Tensions
The coalition reflects a broader political recalibration in South Africa, where no single party can govern alone for the first time since the democratic transition. Ramaphosa’s re-election was made possible by support from both centrist and pro-business factions, while more left-leaning elements within the ANC pushed unsuccessfully for alliances with smaller radical parties advocating nationalisation and land expropriation without compensation.
The DA has long positioned itself as a pro-market alternative to the ANC, and its entry into government has been welcomed by sections of the business community and foreign investors who see the coalition as a stabilising force.
However, the partnership has also drawn criticism from within the ANC and from opposition parties that accuse the DA of representing elite and minority interests. The DA rejects those claims, arguing that its participation reflects a voter mandate for collaboration rather than dominance by any single party.
Coalition Governance And Fragile Stability
The agreement between the ANC and DA is based on a “statement of intent” that includes commitments to merit-based public service appointments and efforts to reduce political interference in state institutions. This is particularly significant in South Africa, where “cadre deployment” has long been a contentious issue and has been linked by critics to corruption and inefficiency.
Smaller parties, including the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Patriotic Alliance, have also joined the governing arrangement, broadening the coalition but adding further complexity to internal negotiations over policy and cabinet positions.
Despite the agreement, analysts note that the coalition remains fragile. Deep ideological differences persist between the ANC and DA, particularly on issues such as economic policy, land reform, and the role of the state in addressing inequality.
Opposition And Ideological Divides
Outside the coalition, opposition forces remain sharply divided. The Economic Freedom Fighters, led by Julius Malema, refused to join the unity government, denouncing the DA as ideologically incompatible and accusing it of defending minority privilege. The party has continued to advocate for radical economic transformation, including nationalisation of key industries.
Another major opposition force, the uMkhonto weSizwe party led by former president Jacob Zuma, also rejected cooperation with the ANC under Ramaphosa’s leadership. The party, which gained significant support in the election, has called for constitutional changes and positioned itself as an alternative nationalist movement.
These divisions highlight the fragmented nature of South Africa’s current political landscape, where no single ideological bloc dominates and coalition politics has become the new norm.
Ramaphosa’s Balancing Act
For Ramaphosa, the coalition represents both a political lifeline and a governing challenge. His leadership has often been defined by attempts to balance reformist economic policies with internal party pressures and persistent allegations of factionalism within the ANC.
Supporters argue that the coalition reinforces his reputation as a pragmatic consensus-builder willing to prioritise stability over ideological purity. Critics, however, warn that governing through compromise could slow decision-making at a time when South Africa faces pressing challenges, including unemployment, energy shortages, and infrastructure constraints.
A New Era Of Coalition Politics
The formation of a government of national unity signals a new era in South African politics, where coalition-building replaces one-party dominance. While the arrangement has been welcomed by markets and parts of the international community, its long-term durability remains uncertain.
Much now depends on whether the ANC and DA can sustain cooperation beyond the initial agreement and translate their shared governance into effective policy delivery. If successful, the coalition could reshape South Africa’s political trajectory. If not, it risks deepening fragmentation in an already polarised political environment.
