South Africa's Coalition Struggles: A Marriage on the Rocks

Sun Oct 19 2025 23:30:47 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The uneasy alliance between South Africa's ANC and DA remains intact, but public tensions highlight the challenges within their political partnership.

Despite ongoing conflicts, South Africa's coalition between the ANC and DA continues, as both parties grapple with internal turmoil and external pressures, revealing a fraught but unavoidable partnership.

South Africa’s political landscape resembles a complicated marriage, where the two main parties, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), struggle to maintain a coalition amid frequent public disputes. Established after the ANC’s diminished parliamentary majority in recent elections, this Government of National Unity (GNU) has seen its first year marked more by contention than camaraderie, leading some analysts to question its viability.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of the ANC and DA leader John Steenhuisen have faced continuous scrutiny as they navigate their fraught partnership. Their collaborative performance, most notably during a contentious meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, showed that the GNU could present a united front when necessary. However, this facade has been punctured by ongoing disagreements, including Steenhuisen’s criticism of Ramaphosa's handling of legislation impacting South Africa's economy, particularly regarding controversial land expropriation measures.

The coalition's internal conflicts have surfaced publicly, showcasing the inherent tension between the ANC's transformative agenda and the DA's pushback. A recent crisis arose from Ramaphosa’s dismissal of DA Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield, igniting complaints about a lack of communication and collaborative governance. Steenhuisen criticized this decision and the broader implications of ANC decisions, prompting discussions within the DA about their role in the coalition.

Despite the tensions, analysts express skepticism about either party seeking a formal break-up. Both parties appear to understand that abandoning the coalition could invite voter backlash, complicating their political futures ahead of the upcoming local elections. As negotiations and internal disputes continue, some voices within the parties express concern over escalating conflicts, hinting at a potential future where drastic measures like a no-confidence motion may arise if the situation remains unresolved.

The GNU’s fragile foundation, often perceived as a marketing platform for both parties, raises questions about their long-term stability and effectiveness in addressing pressing national issues. Given the current political climate, re-establishing respectful dialogue appears crucial for the coalition to endure the pressures that will undoubtedly continue to arise in the coming months.