By Abbey Makoe
By all indications, South Africa’s experiment with a Government of National Unity (GNU) is beginning to unravel.
What was once hailed as a pragmatic response to the 2024 election results is now morphing into a political conundrum of monumental proportions. If not handled with urgency and care, the GNU could fester into a debilitating wound rather than a bold solution for national governance.
The recent revelation that the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Patriotic Alliance (PA), and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) embarked on what appears to be a clandestine diplomatic mission to Israel has shaken the very foundation of the GNU.
This trip, exposed by the GOOD party—itself a member of the GNU—raises serious questions about transparency, coordination, and loyalty within the coalition. Steve Motale, spokesperson for the PA, described the trip as a “pilgrimage to the Holy Land,” but the political implications are far from sacred.
If the celebratory tone with which President Cyril Ramaphosa rolled out the GNU just months ago was any indication of its potential, then it’s safe to say the honeymoon is officially over. For even the most ardent supporters, the dream of a unified government is quickly devolving into a nightmare.
The DA’s recent refusal to support the ANC-led budget vote in Parliament is another indicator of deepening fractures within the coalition. The abstention not only caught Luthuli House off guard but provoked a strong reaction from ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and other senior figures.
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The anger is not just about a failed vote; it’s about a breach of trust and a signal that the GNU might be running on borrowed time.
But this is more than a headache for President Ramaphosa and his inner circle. It is a full-blown political dilemma. The trip to Israel, the budget vote debacle, and now the DA and AfriForum’s overtures to Washington have created a perfect storm.
That South African-born Elon Musk was approached to influence then-U.S. President Donald Trump against South Africa’s land reform policies—culminating in the declaration of South Africa’s ambassador Ebrahim Rasool as persona non grata—adds insult to injury.
This morning, a negotiating team appointed by the Federal Executive of the DA met a delegation from the ANC . The discussion follows in the wake of the recent dispute over the Fiscal Framework, which contains a 1% VAT increase over two years: https://t.co/IRi6EmQfA9
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) April 12, 2025
The…
Outside the GNU, voices calling for drastic action are growing louder. Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the South African Communist Party (SACP), a key alliance partner of the ANC, have demanded consequences.
SACP leader Solly Mapaila has been particularly vocal, insisting that the DA be expelled from the coalition. His views are not new—he has always opposed the ANC aligning with what he considers remnants of colonial rule, like the DA.
This brings us to the central question: What should the ANC do under such fraught circumstances? After the most recent meeting of the ANC’s National Working Committee, it became clear that the DA’s presence in the GNU is increasingly polarizing.
There are even murmurs that organizations like AfriForum should be charged with treason.
Yet South Africa remains a constitutional democracy, bound by the negotiated settlement of the pre-1994 CODESA talks. Legal action, particularly for ideological betrayals, is easier suggested than enacted.
The complexity of coalition politics in a democracy like South Africa’s does not lend itself to swift retribution.
Even from its inception, the GNU was always going to be a migraine. How does President Ramaphosa navigate this minefield? As the architect of the GNU, his credibility is at stake.
His government must now contend with coalition partners openly flouting the nation’s foreign policy and economic agenda. It is a direct challenge to the ANC’s authority and a test of Ramaphosa’s leadership.
Kenny Kunene of the PA argues that membership in the GNU does not nullify a party’s individual manifesto. While this may be technically true, the ideological chasm between the parties is so vast that it’s difficult to envision them coalescing around any coherent policy direction. It has been clear from the start that the ANC was the most enthusiastic about the GNU. There were other viable options, including a minority coalition with the EFF and Jacob Zuma’s MK Party, but the ANC opted for a broader, more inclusive (and perhaps safer) path.
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The markets initially welcomed the GNU with open arms. It was seen as a signal of political maturity and a safeguard against instability. The rand stabilized, foreign investment trickled in, and optimism was cautiously rekindled. But these early gains are now under threat.
The irony is that Ramaphosa might find himself wrong no matter what path he chooses. If he acts against his coalition partners, he risks destabilizing the government. If he remains passive, he undermines his own authority and that of the ANC. This is the classic “cow of the palace” scenario, as described in my Tswana heritage: one is guilty whether they herd the cow or leave it be.
The GNU is a potpourri of political ideologies and ambitions, some of which are fundamentally incompatible. Like the scent of a potpourri bowl, the initial appeal is often short-lived. Yet in politics, miracles do happen. South Africa’s GNU might still find its rhythm, though it is increasingly hard to imagine.
@Action4SA, @BuildOneSA negotiated in extremely good faith, they wanted a solution & came with suggestions for the tax impasse. @Our_DA wanted positions for Minister Solly & DM Sarupen. This is the letter that you wrote to the ANC, it was never about the poor. pic.twitter.com/dVAqjmJiTd
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) April 5, 2025
If there is anything that keeps President Ramaphosa awake at night, it is almost certainly the state of the GNU. The coalition was built on noble intentions and strategic calculations, but the practical reality is proving to be a far cry from the ideal.
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Why the ANC doesn’t simply call time on the GNU is a question that may become a compelling case study in political science. Perhaps it’s the blurry intersection of business and politics that makes such a clean break difficult. The involvement of economic elites, international stakeholders, and policy ideologues may be the hidden glue holding this shaky coalition together.
In the end, time will be the ultimate judge. The GNU could emerge stronger, learning from its internal conflicts to become a model of coalition governance. Or it could collapse, becoming a cautionary tale about the limits of political unity in a deeply divided society.
One thing is clear: the GNU is not working as intended, and unless significant changes are made—either in structure, membership, or purpose—South Africa risks sliding into political paralysis. The stakes are too high for indifference.
Abbey Makoe is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Global South Media Network (gsmn.co.za). The views expressed are his own.