Could South Africa Be Heading Towards an ‘Impossible’ Coalition?
The African National Congress (ANC) might steer clear of collaborations with extremists and instead opt for a coalition with the main opposition party, the pro-West, centrist Democratic Alliance.
In Johannesburg, South Africa is set to hold elections on May 29, where an alliance of 11 opposition parties known as the Multi-Party Charter (MPC) aims to end the grip the African National Congress has held on power for the past 30 years.
Polls indicate that the ANC is facing its weakest position since Nelson Mandela led the party to victory in 1994, after years of apartheid rule. Issues like corruption scandals, failures in service delivery, high unemployment, poverty, and crime have tarnished the party’s image.
Experts predict that the ANC might fall below 50 percent for the first time in a national election, possibly securing between 45 and 48 percent, prompting them to form a coalition with smaller opposition parties to maintain their government position.
If ANC’s results are significantly poor, analysts see a possible coalition with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), South Africa’s radical leftist political party promoting policies like nationalizing private businesses and lands, and unionizing workers.
On the other hand, the Democratic Alliance (DA) leads the MPC, a coalition consisting of various parties aiming to defeat the ANC through combined votes. The DA advocates for pro-West and pro-business policies, including privatizing state-owned enterprises and relaxing business regulations to attract more investment.
The DA’s campaign slogan “Rescue South Africa” emphasizes aspects like job creation, renewable energy projects, and clean governance, contrasting with the ANC and EFF’s more radical approaches.
