South Africa's 2024 Elections Usher in Unprecedented Coalition Government

Picture courtesy: (GCI) As South Africa embarks on this new chapter, the world watches with anticipation, eager to witness the unfolding of a new democracy starting in 2024.

(The Post News)- South Africa’s 2024 general elections have culminated in a significant shift in the nation’s political landscape.

As coalition talks are underway, the African National Congress (ANC) as met with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) in its first round of formal meetings with political parties in a bid to form a coalition government.

Thus far, the ANC says there have been no substantial negotiations with any political parties it has met since the first round of exploratory coalition talks began on Monday. According to BusinessLive, the party’s first deputy secretary-general, Nomvula Mokonyane, confirmed that the ANC has met with the DA, IFP, EFF, Patriotic Alliance, and the National Freedom Party.

The ANC which has been the ruling party since the dawn of democracy in 1994, has for the first time failed to secure a majority, garnering only 40.18% of votes.

This outcome necessitates the formation of a coalition government, a scenario previously unseen in the country’s post-apartheid era.

The elections, marking 30 years of democracy, saw a record 27.7 million South Africans register to vote. However, the voter turnout was the lowest in the nation’s democratic history, with only 16.2 million votes cast, accounting for a 58.64 percent turnout.

This decline in voter participation has sparked widespread debate among political analysts, with many attributing it to a growing disillusionment with the political process and a call for significant reform.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a speech following the announcement, called for parties to find “common ground” and create the first national coalition government in South Africa’s young democracy.

The ANC, once the party of Nelson Mandela, had lost its grip on power due to widespread poverty, high unemployment rates, and service delivery issues.

Voters expressed their discontent by deserting the ANC in significant numbers.

As stipulated by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the next steps in the formation of South Africa’s government are clear-cut yet complex.

The allocation of seats in the 400-member National Assembly will reflect the proportional representation based on the election results.

Within two weeks of the election results, the National Assembly is mandated to convene for its inaugural sitting, during which members will be sworn in, and the Speaker will be elected.

The election of the President of South Africa will occur during this first sitting or shortly thereafter.

The elected President will then shoulder the responsibility of appointing the Cabinet and officially forming the government.

According to Section 51.1 of the Constitution, the President of the Constitutional Court determines the date and time of the first National Assembly sitting, which must not exceed 14 days post-election results declaration.

The ANC’s unprecedented position of negotiating a coalition presents both challenges and opportunities.

Political experts suggest that this could lead to a more inclusive and representative governance structure, potentially revitalizing the political system and addressing the concerns of a diverse electorate.

The 2024 elections have set the stage for a fresh start, where for the first time post apartheid a coalition government will have to be formed in order to form a governing council.