One year into its historic term, South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) faces increasing threats of collapse amid rising tensions between its two largest coalition partners.
The African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) are clashing over governance and power-sharing, shaking the fragile foundation of their unity government.
This coalition was formed last June, after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years.
Tensions escalated when President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed DA deputy minister Andrew Whitfield over an unauthorized international trip, a move DA leader John Steenhuisen condemned as political retaliation.
Steenhuisen announced the DA’s immediate withdrawal from Ramaphosa’s national dialogue initiative, aimed at tackling poverty, unemployment, inflation, and crime.
The DA also issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the removal of corrupt ANC ministers, which Ramaphosa dismissed as an overreach of authority.
The standoff deepened when the DA voted against the Education Ministry’s budget, citing corruption allegations against its ANC head, pledging to oppose other budgets linked to ANC ministers.
Despite the conflict, Deputy President Paul Mashatile insisted the budget transcends party lines and will continue to receive ANC support.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula also affirmed the GNU’s resilience, even if the DA withdraws from national dialogue.
Political analysts see the discord as largely symbolic, driven by internal party politics rather than an imminent coalition breakdown.
University of South Africa professor Dirk Kotze noted the DA will only leave if forced out by the ANC, which fears losing control of KwaZulu-Natal to rival factions.
Constitutionally, early elections remain impossible until three years after the last poll, limiting options if the coalition collapses.
Critics say neither party wants to take blame for a government collapse, predicting reconciliation is likely as seen in past crises.
For now, South Africa’s fragile GNU remains a delicate dance of cooperation and contestation.