Good GNUs, bad GNUs and ugly GNUs... one year later

IT HAS been one year since the formation of South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU), which was the conclusion of several uncertain weeks post the 2024 general elections, where the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority for the first time since 1994. The ANC made a conscious decision to seek out coalition partners, and the outcome was a compromise with the Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and smaller parties to create the GNU.

- ADVOCATE LAVAN GOPAUL

Public curiosity begs the question: how does the GNU score from a constitutional perspective? What is the GNU's political progress? What are some of the economic challenges, and does it attract investment? And can we confirm whether the coalition has stabilised governance? And most importantly, in the final analysis, is the GNU a success or failure?

Those that are old enough to remember will recall the unease and anxiety that we experienced after the first democratic elections in 1994. We stood at the edge of the unknown; the country had ongoing violence leading to many deaths in parts of the country. Nelson Mandela’s victory at the polling stations was accompanied by a heavy crown, and he decided on the path of a coalition government as a solution. This coalition with the National Party (NP) and the IFP resulted in cabinet minister positions and regional power in KZN and the Western Cape for the IFP and NP.

Blitzing forward 30 years, Ramaphosa needed to make a compromise solution and reached out to the DA, IFP, and several other parties to form a government, leaving left-leaning parties like the EFF and new MK in the “cold.” This coalition was referred to as a GNU; typically, a GNU is formed during times of war, crisis, or transition periods.