Following the long-ruling African National Congress‘s loss of legislative majority in last month’s election, the leader of South Africa’s Inkatha Freedom Party said Wednesday it will join a proposed government of national unity, therefore helping to overcome the political gridlock in the nation.
With Velenkosini Hlabisa’s announcement, some of the main parties have agreed to create a coalition government with the ANC, so increasing the likelihood of a Friday deadline agreement when the new Parliament of South Africa sits for the first time following the May 29 election and tries to choose a president.
After the apartheid system of white minority control was overthrown in 1994, the ANC had been the ruling party for thirty years; nonetheless, only 40% of the vote in this election. Though it remains the largest party, it must negotiate with others to run and reelect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second and last term.
Keep Reading
In national elections, South Africans choose parties; their vote percentage determines their seat in Parliament. Later, legislators choose the most industrialized nation in Africa’s presidency.
Last week the ANC suggested establishing a government of national unity instead of a limited coalition of one or two parties and asked all 17 other parties represented in Parliament to be part of it. A few have declined.
According to Hlabisa, the IFP was ready to form a unity government comprising the ANC and the Democratic Alliance, the second most voted for opposition party in South Africa.
The IFP will do it “for the sake of our country and a stable government,” Hlabisa stated. Mostly from the Zulu ethnic group, the party gets its support.
Although it is still under negotiations with the ANC over the specifics, the centrist Democratic Alliance has suggested it would also be ready to join a unity government.
Together, the ANC, DA, and IFP would clearly possess a majority of the seats.
Two other significant parties—the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters and the new MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma—have declined to sign the unity accord. Claiming anomalies, MK has opposed to the election results and filed legal motions to stop the first Parliament meeting.
Though officially declared the results on June 2 and said the election was free and fair, South Africa’s independent electoral body recognized there were logistical issues and recorded protests by numerous parties. Others who watched independently also said it was fair and free.
According to MK, should Friday go forward, its 58 new legislators would not show up for Parliament. Though MK boycotts, the constitution of South Africa states only a third of the 400 members of Parliament must be present for a quorum and the vote to choose the president would go forward.
