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2024 In Review | Jury still out on GNU’s sustainability

todayDecember 20, 2024 35

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Image: SA Parliament

South African politics entering uncharted territory for the first time since the dawn of democracy this year.

The rise of a Government of National Unity (GNU) brought much uncertainty for many, while some said it was about time that the political landscape changed.

The May 29 general elections saw the ANC make history, dipping to 40% in the highly contested polls.

As a result, South Africa’s 7th democratic administration is made up of a cabinet of ministers and deputy ministers from the ANC, DA, Freedom Front Plus, UDM, IFP, PA, Good Party and Al Jama-ah.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s all-inclusive cabinet has 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers.

While many have labelled the GNU a grand coalition between the DA and ANC, some believe that it was progressive for the party to have shown a willingness to work with the DA.

The GNU is grounded by a Statement of Intent where parties made a commitment to pursue rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth as well create a more just society by tackling poverty and safeguarding the rights of workers.

Many have questioned the longevity of the partnership, with leaders such as Julius Malema not mincing their words when expressing their that the GNU won’t last.

Malema made it clear that they are waiting for the DA to exit the GNU so that the EFF can enter the government.

He echoed the sentiments of ANC’s National Chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, who said they are not fazed by the DA’s threats that they will walk away from the union.

Mantashe said the DA’s exit would make way for parties such as the EFF and MK Party who have been very vocal about their discontent with a government that includes the blue party.

Parallel to the critiques of the GNU is one of the ANC’s alliance partners, the SACP, who continue to accuse the liberation movement of failing South Africans.

The formation of the GNU and the SACP’s discontent prompted the urgency for the communist party to review its independence within the tripartite alliance with the ANC and Cosatu.

The SACP announced that it will be contesting, for the first time since the advent of democracy, at the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The looming implementation of the controversial Bela Act is another litmus test for the GNU, with some officials calling for it to be implemented in its current form, while some seek amendments to the admission and language policies of the legislation.

Various quarters of society remain divided over the piece of legislation, placing the President between a rock and a hard place as its biggest partner in the GNU, the DA is among those who believe a review into the disputed clauses is needed.

Questions continue to linger whether or not GNU will stand the test of time.

Political analyst, Goodenough Mashego, says while it is still unclear which direction the GNU is taking – there are lessons to be drawn from its early days.

Mashego says it is important that South Africans remember that in the next general elections, they should vote for parties based on similarities and not their differences.

The GNU has shifted the country’s political terrain in many ways, with young people calling for more opportunities that will prioritise them, but also with the hope that it will reduce social ills that mostly affect them, including unemployment.

Mashego says young people should stop thinking of themselves as voters and see themselves as agents of change.

“Imagine if there was a whole youth party that is not going to vote for the ANC, UDM or any existing party but will have all young people vote for that party, that will give them much leverage in nudging the government in the direction they want.”

 

 

Mashego says next year’s municipal polls will be the biggest area of contestation for the GNU as the coalition partners at national and provincial level will be battling it out at the ballot box for the first since its formation.

“If the GNU can live beyond 2026 then it can live beyond 2027 when the ANC goes to its elective conference, these are the two big milestones. The ministers are still comfortable, the real test for the GNU will only come in 2028.”

 

 

 

Written by: Lindiwe Mpanza

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