In a historic move, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has formed a new coalition government in response to the African National Congress (ANC) losing its parliamentary majority in recent elections. The ANC will hold 20 out of 32 cabinet positions, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) taking six and smaller parties sharing the remaining six. Despite the ANC’s previous dominance in governing the country since 1994, public dissatisfaction over service delivery and corruption led to a need for change.
Key ministries such as defense, finance, and foreign affairs will remain with the ANC, while the DA will oversee home affairs and public works. President Ramaphosa emphasized the new government’s focus on economic growth and social justice, a sentiment echoed by both the ANC and the DA. However, differences in healthcare and economic policies between the two major parties may present challenges moving forward.
The formation of this coalition government marks a significant shift in South African politics and sets the stage for a new era of governance focused on addressing the country’s pressing issues.