After Your "X" What's NEXT - Part 2
South Africa’s 7th Administration and the “Government of National Unity”
By Tebogo Mokgadi.
The 2024 general elections took place in May 29th and, for lack of a better term, were filled with controversy and tension. With the actual day experiencing, among other things, sabotage and delay, stealing of ballot boxes, and IEC officials not even pitching in at multiple voting stations. Additional post-elections challenges included dealing with the coordination and formation of coalitions, and ultimately the introduction of a Government of National Unity (GNU). It has become clear that South Africa’s 7th Administration will be mired with layers yet to be explored over the next 5 years.
In part 1, we touched on what’s next after making our votes. That might have been under the impression of us thinking that a single party will get majority at polls. How wrong we were. After 30 years steering a
democratic republic, the African National Congress (ANC) has found itself having to share its proverbial pie with other parties, namely the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkhata Freedom Party (IFP). The decisions of this country rest on more than one mind that won’t be based on hive mentality.
Mr. Ramaphosa is still to occupy the Presidential Office for another term. However, unlike previous terms. he will have to discuss the rest of his Cabinet with with his coalition counterparts, Mr Steenhuisen (DA) and Mr Hlabisa (IFP) Some say that given the ANC’s larger number, they’re obviously set to keep the most vital ministerial portfolios. What people people fail to consider is the controversy brought by DA and its alliance via the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa(MPCSA). This moonshot pact enables the other side to amass support from other parties, possibly leading to the
reevaluation of those portfolios. Hence, tension and trouble are looming on the horizons.
Others who are in opposition of the multiparty national government includes the likes of the Economic Freedom Front (EFF), Al-Jama-Ah, United Drmocratic Movement (UDM), and more. Calling their conglomerate The Progressive Caucus, it is seen among political echelons as a refined, constructive way, to continue causing a ruckus through resistance. The rogue dark horse known as Mkonto we Sizwe (MK) party has also pledged to be part of this progressive pact as a means to reject the perceived encore of apartheid.
The likelihood of this being an Administration devoid of frequent bickering and exaggerated turmoil is very slim. Everyone wants to show that they’re the better choice for the everyday South African. It seems to reveal itself in the fore on how political parties are more about
politicking than actively implementing the Bill Of Rights in attempts to alleviate the incongruences and inequities left by the previous oppressive regimes.
How will the GNU look past pushing their own agendas in parliament and remember the plight of the people who voted for them? South Africans voted because they needed leaders considerate of their current situations characterized by marginalization and discriminaion, insecurity and inequality, and lack of consisutency in basic service and quality of life. Will this be yet another five years of uncertainty foisted upon South Africans? Given the mismanagement of our democracy and the generational trauma that continues to be perpetuated, priority must be given to the pain of the people, instead of the pockets of politicians! Controversial as this administration might end up being, an urgent change is sorely needed by South Africans to mark progress. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the civil and human rights leader from the United States once said, “It is sometimes possible to be too late with the right answers.” We urge BeCoCo partners and our allies to remain vigilant in deploying our values of integrity, transparency and accountability toward the 7th National Assembly and Governent of National Unity with urgency and consistency!
A graduate of BeCoCo partner, SisterBoss Academy & Company, Tebogo Mokgadi, is Writer-in-Resisence with BeCoCo
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