Coalitions and the GNU in South Africa: Proposals to Embrace, Pitfalls to Avoid

The document examines the transition of South Africa to a coalition-based national government following the May 2024 elections, where the ANC lost its majority. It argues that for the GNU to be effective, partners must prioritize accountability and service delivery over the retention of power. By analyzing the instability of local coalitions in South Africa and comparing them with experiences in Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, and Western Europe, the brief advocates for the adoption of formal, written coalition agreements to manage ideological tensions and improve governmental stability.

• The 2024 Government of National Unity (GNU) differs from the 1994 GNU because it was driven by political necessity following the ANC's loss of its majority in the 29 May elections, rather than being a mandatory requirement of a transitional constitution.
• Coalition governance at the local government level in South Africa has often been ineffective, with partnerships frequently based on party-political interests rather than voter will, leading to compromised citizen engagement and hindered service delivery when partners hold diametrically opposed principles.
• Experiences in other African nations highlight the risks and utility of coalitions: Kenya's 2008 GNU was a necessity to stop post-election violence; Lesotho's coalitions were 'inherently unstable' despite attempts to formalize agreements; and Malawi's experience has been inconsistent, sometimes leading to the demise of political parties.
• Western European coalition models provide a contrast through the use of institutionalized conflict management mechanisms and, in some cases like Germany, lengthy and formal coalition agreements that cover various eventualities.
• To improve stability and accountability, the document recommends that South African coalition governance move toward using formal, written agreements as a standard feature to manage differences and prioritize the needs of the electorate over power-grabbing tactics.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2024). Coalitions and the GNU in South Africa: Proposals to Embrace, Pitfalls to Avoid. https://saiia.org.za/research/coalitions-and-the-gnu-in-south-africa-proposals-to-embrace-pitfalls-to-avoid/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Coalitions and the GNU in South Africa: Proposals to Embrace, Pitfalls to Avoid. 2024. https://saiia.org.za/research/coalitions-and-the-gnu-in-south-africa-proposals-to-embrace-pitfalls-to-avoid/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Coalitions and the GNU in South Africa: Proposals to Embrace, Pitfalls to Avoid |date=2 December 2024 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/coalitions-and-the-gnu-in-south-africa-proposals-to-embrace-pitfalls-to-avoid/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2024coalitions, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Coalitions and the GNU in South Africa: Proposals to Embrace, Pitfalls to Avoid}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/coalitions-and-the-gnu-in-south-africa-proposals-to-embrace-pitfalls-to-avoid/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }