JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The leader of South Africa’s second most popular party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), stated on Monday that they would be open to forming a coalition with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) if the ANC fails to secure the majority needed to retain power in the upcoming May elections.
Experts anticipate that the ANC will not achieve a legislative majority on May 29, marking the first time since the end of apartheid 30 years ago when Nelson Mandela came into power. This dissatisfaction among voters is due to issues such as poor service delivery, high unemployment rates, crime, and frequent power outages.
If the ANC fails to secure a majority, President Cyril Ramaphosa or his successor would require a coalition to stay in power, as the South African parliament selects the president.
“The possibility of forming a coalition would depend on the policies and actions of the ANC,” said DA leader John Steenhuisen, who did not reveal if any discussions had taken place yet.
“I am not ruling out any options, depending on the election results.”
Earlier this month, ANC’s Deputy Party Secretary Nomvula Mokonyane told Reuters that the party is not considering a coalition government with other parties and she believes that a power-sharing agreement would not be successful.
The DA has joined forces with smaller parties to try to secure over 50% of the vote required to take power.
The parties in this coalition include the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party, which has historically been a rival of the ANC, as well as Freedom Front Plus, which appeals to rural white South Africans feeling marginalized post-apartheid, and Action SA, known for its tough anti-immigration stance and appeal to the working and middle class voters.
“It’s a bit of a gamble,” Steenhuisen commented. He also stated that if the opposition coalition does not emerge victorious, he would aim to prevent the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) from gaining a seat in the executive.
The DA is known for its pro-business stance, contrasting with the EFF’s popularity among poor, Black South Africans, despite being frowned upon by businesses and wealthy individuals. The EFF’s promises include nationalizing industries and addressing land ownership inequalities.
“I cannot stand by and allow the country to fall into the hands of radical Socialists,” Steenhuisen emphasized. “If the (opposition coalition) falls short, we may have to consider the lesser of two evils.”
If in power, the DA would focus on privatizing the power sector instead of relying on state provider Eskom, and cutting red tape to facilitate private sector operations, Steenhuisen revealed.
The DA would uphold its policy of replacing the ANC’s Black empowerment initiative with a poverty-focused program, irrespective of race. Race remains a contentious issue in South Africa, with the DA being viewed by many as representing white privilege.
“I don’t agree with that perception,” Steenhuisen countered. “The main beneficiaries of a transparent, accountable government are the underprivileged, marginalized South Africans.”
(Editing by Barbara Lewis)
