ANC will avoid EFF/MK coalition 'at all costs' - pundit

With threats coming in from all sides to end the African National Congress' three-decade-long run as governing party, the 2024 election is widely considered to be the most important since 1994.

From the formation of the Multi-Party Charter to the emergence of former president Jacob Zuma's MK Party.

Business Day columnist Peter Attard Montalto says a coalition government is looking more and more likely.

"The point that comes out to me is that there are very few options if we believe that the MK party is showing a serious kind of momentum to become a party that gets around 5% or a little higher...that has serious implications for how coalitions can work."

Peter Attard Montalto, Managing Director, Global Lead, Capital Markets, Political Economy and JET - Krutham

"The ANC's going to have to go in with a big party, probably in some form of grand coalition...and it's going to be pretty messy."

Peter Attard Montalto, Managing Director, Global Lead, Capital Markets, Political Economy and JET - Krutham

"Things that, in the past, we were dismissing because they seemed a further away probability are now zooming into gear."

Peter Attard Montalto, Managing Director, Global Lead, Capital Markets, Political Economy and JET - Krutham

Such as what?

Things like an ANC-DA confidence and supply agreement or an ANC-DA coalition, says Montalto.

"Because other things don't work.The ANC will try to avoid at all costs [a coalition with] the MKP and the EFF."

Peter Attard Montalto, Managing Director, Global Lead, Capital Markets, Political Economy and JET - Krutham

South Africa heads to the polls on 29 May in the most significant election since the first democratic elections in the country in 1994.