South Africa's Government of National Unity — the unprecedented coalition forged after the ANC's historic loss of its parliamentary majority in the May 2024 general election — is showing visible signs of strain as policy disagreements between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance become increasingly public and difficult to manage through conventional diplomatic channels.
Tensions came to a head this week when DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille publicly criticised the direction of several ANC-led cabinet departments, accusing the governing party of reverting to policy positions that were at odds with the spirit of the GNU agreement. The DA has expressed particular frustration with proposed amendments to Black Economic Empowerment legislation and the pace of privatisation discussions at state-owned entities.
Senior ANC officials responded by accusing the DA of acting in bad faith and overstepping the boundaries of the GNU framework, which they argue grants partners influence proportionate to their representation rather than a veto over core ANC policy commitments. The public exchange has prompted concern among investors and international observers about whether the coalition can hold.
President Ramaphosa convened an emergency meeting of the GNU leadership council in an attempt to de-escalate the dispute and reaffirm the commitment of all parties to the coalition agreement. Sources within the Presidency indicated that progress had been made but that structural differences in policy philosophy between the ANC and DA make periodic flare-ups almost inevitable.
Political analysts note that the GNU has always been a marriage of convenience rather than conviction, and that both major parties face pressure from their respective bases to maintain ideological clarity. The ANC risks criticism from its left flank — particularly from the trade union movement and civil society — if it is seen to accommodate DA economic positions, while the DA risks alienating its core constituency if it appears to be enabling ANC governance failures.
