The African National Congress (ANC) has announced the establishment of “an historic” agreement among 10 South African political parties to form a government of national unity to form the seventh democratic administration led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The 10 political parties who are now signatories to the government of national unity arrangement are part of 10 parties who have representation in the seventh Parliament.
In the May 29 general elections, the ANC received its worst election result since apartheid ended 30 years ago in South Africa. The ANC garnered 40% of the vote, losing its absolute majority in Parliament.
IOL last week reported that Ramaphosa had officially begun his second term after his party formulated the government of national unity incorporating its decades-old rival, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and other smaller parties, including the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Patriotic Alliance (PA).
The list of political parties joining the government of national unity ranks has been increasing, with the GOOD, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), Freedom Front Plus, United Democratic Movement (UDM), Rise Mzansi and Al Jama-ah being the latest to join the arrangement.
ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said with the 10 political parties now being signatories to the government of national unity, the first phase of parties to join the GNU initiative has therefore been concluded.
“The parties constituting the GNU together secured over 70% of the vote in the 2024 elections, ensuring broad representativity and a strong mandate to govern. These parties have agreed to be bound by the foundational principles outlined in the statement of intent, and to work together to pursue its objectives,” said Bhengu-Motsiri.
“Any further parties wishing to join the GNU will be subject to clause 24 of the statement of intent which states that: “in keeping with the spirit of an inclusive GNU, it is agreed that the composition shall be discussed and agreed amongst the existing parties, whenever new parties desire to be part of the GNU.”
The ANC said engagements with the signatory parties to the GNU on the formation of the executive has started, and President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce appointments to the executive in the coming days.
“The ANC remains in open communication with the parties that have not joined the GNU, exploring various ways in which there can be collaboration on building a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa,” she said.
IOL