A Government of National Unity and a new chapter for SA
South Africa’s 2024 General election results brought about a monumental change in what our current and future government will look like. For the first time since 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) lost the majority of the vote, which meant that for the first time since the Party came into power, it now needed to look to other parties to align itself to as part of a Government of National Unity in order to retain its critical seats in government, including the role of President elect. On the 19th of June 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa of the ANC was re-elected as the President of South Africa in the seventh democratic elections, post a successful one the 29th of May 2024. It was far from a successful election for the ANC, but constituted a successful election for South Africa due to the voter turnout and the fact that the voters made their voices heard, no matter whether the parties themselves agreed or liked what the voters had to say.
However, the results of May’s election left South Africa in a state of limbo as this is the first time since Nelson Mandela became president, that the ANC no longer took ownership of the majority of the vote. This meant that other alternatives needed to be considered, including the dreaded Government of National Unity. The ANC retained just over 40% of the votes, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) coming in second with 21.8%, surprisingly followed by uMkhonto weSizwe at 14.58% which usurped the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for the third spot. In fourth place sits the EFF at 9.52%. The subsequent result of the elections prompted the formation of a Government of National unity which consists of the following participating parties: ANC, DA, Patriotic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, Good Party, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Freedom Front Plus, United Democratic Movement and Al Jama’ah. The EFF and MK noticeably opted not to be part of the GNU.
At the beginning of his new electoral term, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the importance of the participating parties to work together to ensure the success of the Government of National Unity: “In the spirit of partnership and collaboration, the incoming government will work together with other formations to convene a National Dialogue. All parties, civil society groups, labour, business and other stakeholders will be invited to work together to address the critical challenges facing the nation. We are determined that the principles and programme that underpin the Government of National Unity (GNU) extends beyond the institutions of the State. This is an opportunity for all South Africans to work together more closely and with greater purpose to ensure that we build a South Africa for all.” Only time will tell if SA’s new GNU will be the necessary glue needed to effectively address South Africa’s problems.