29.06.2024. Note that this article does not reflect the most recent developments/ talks held in the last 24 -36 hours between the DA & the ANC.

South Africa’s newly formed coalition government is facing a severe crisis just weeks after the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA) agreed to share power. The two largest parties in the country are embroiled in a heated dispute over the allocation of ministerial roles, threatening to derail their landmark power-sharing agreement.
The conflict emerged after the ANC failed to secure a simple majority in last month’s election, forcing it to form a coalition government. The center-right DA, which won the second-largest share of the vote, agreed to join the coalition, allowing ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa to continue as President for five more years.
However, recent developments have put this arrangement in jeopardy. DA Chair Helen Zille reportedly told party leaders to prepare to walk away from the deal, citing disagreements over “meaningful portfolios” that would allow the party to fulfill its commitments to the country.
The situation escalated when President Ramaphosa accused DA leader John Steenhuisen of attempting to create a “parallel government” in breach of the constitution. In a letter dated June 25, Ramaphosa chastised Steenhuisen for “moving the goalposts” during negotiations and criticized Helen Zille’s demands as “offensive, condescending and inconsistent with the constitution.”
Reports suggest that the ANC offered the DA six cabinet posts, but the DA demanded two additional positions. Furthermore, the DA claims that Ramaphosa reneged on a promise to give them the crucial Trade and Industry Ministry, a key post for addressing South Africa’s economic challenges.
The public airing of these disagreements, including leaks of confidential letters, has further strained relations between the coalition partners. DA leaders have expressed anger over what they perceive as deal-breaking conduct by their ANC counterparts.
This political turmoil comes at a critical time for South Africa. The ANC has lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994, securing only 40% of the vote compared to the DA’s 22%. The business sector had strongly advocated for a deal between the two parties, believing it would help achieve economic stability.
The uncertainty surrounding the coalition’s future has already impacted financial markets, with South Africa’s currency, the rand, plunging against the dollar following news of the possible collapse of the agreement.
As South Africa enters uncharted political territory, the ability of the ANC and DA to resolve their differences and form a stable government remains in question. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the coalition can survive this early test or if the country will face further political uncertainty.