Clock ticks on ANC's coalition talks
Eyewitness News understands, emulating South Africa’s founding fathers government of national unity, a grand coalition with the DA and possibly opting for a minority government are some of the considerations on the table.
Job, handshake, hired, agreement / Pixabay: Tumisu 3790033 1280
JOHANNESBURG - While political parties explore multiple scenarios of paths towards building a coalition government after the 2024 general elections, it seems some African National Congress (ANC) leaders have already settled on three preferred options.
These will have to be presented at a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in the coming days, as the ANC attempts to find some consensus on the way forward.
The former liberation movement failed to secure an outright win in the elections this week, falling from 57.50% in 2019 to hovering around 40% in the current polls.
It also lost control of at least three provinces in these elections, including KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Gauteng and the Northern Cape.
The ANC has little room to manoeuvre and even less time to make key decisions about who it wants at its side in order to continue governing the country.
Eyewitness News understands, emulating South Africa’s founding fathers government of national unity, a grand coalition with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and possibly opting for a minority government are some of the considerations on the table.
Some have punted that a DA coalition would be best for the country.
READ: An ANC-DA coalition is not far-fetched, says analyst Mathekga
But this idea is likely to face fierce resistance from within the ANC, with some set to possibly refuse to work with the so-called enemy.
Analyst Lukhona Mguni says several parties, during this period, will find that at times what’s best for the country will be at odds with the interests of their organisations.
These organisations have a delicate responsibility to walk a tightrope of self-preservation but also signalling to the country that they are serious and they are taking the country seriously.
The ANC which has said it's willing to talk to anyone, is likely to also want a view from Jacob Zuma and his uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party as well as Julius Malema and the red berets.