Cabinet announcement a make-or-break for all GNU parties - Analysts
An historic moment for South Africa’s democracy, GNU coalition partners must put their best feet forward.
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa attends a COSATU May Day rally in Athlone, near Cape Town, on 1 May 2024. Picture: AFP
JOHANNESBURG - As the country waits to find out who President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed to his Cabinet, analysts say it remains a high-stakes game for all parties involved.
Sunday’s announcement is the end-result of countless negotiations, led by Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC), after a poor showing in the May 29th elections.
The ANC garnered 40% at the polls and has since formed what it termed a Government of National Unity (GNU), which saw it inviting all parties to the table for power-sharing talks.
Ramaphosa is due to make his address at 9pm on Sunday evening.
Analyst Lukhona Mnguni said this was an historic moment in South Africa’s journey, which came with a lot of difficult considerations for all involved.
“It's not an easy moment for all of the political parties, but they do accept that at least in the conduct of democracy, and in the appreciation of the fact that the ANC has not behaved like a typical liberation movement.”
Meanwhile, North West University’s governance professor Kedibone Phago said all those involved in the GNU would have to put their best feet forward in a bid to avoid being swallowed by the coalition currently taking shape.