President Cyril Ramaphosa was always seen as the great negotiator, the man who could build bridges and find middle ground, however, leading South Africa’s new Government of National Unity (GNU) may be his most complex challenge yet.

With a cabinet made up of ideological rivals, political heavyweights, and growing public frustration, the task of governing has turned into a high-stakes balancing act.

Formed after the 2024 elections to avoid a so called  “doomsday coalition” between the ANC, MK Party, and the EFF, the GNU now includes ten political parties. Each brings its own priorities and power plays, a reality that is testing Ramaphosa’s famed consensus-building skills like never before.

Professor Theo Neethling, of the Department of Political Studies and Governance at the University of the Free State, argues that while coalition governments in South Africa have historically struggled, Ramaphosa has thus far managed to hold things together.

“1994, Coalition arrangements in several metropolitan municipalities have shown serious difficulties and ended up in conflict,” he said.

“Yet, under Ramaphosa’s leadership, the core of the GNU is still intact, and that is both important and remarkable.”

According to Neethling, “He has played a crucial role in managing competing interests within this complex political environment,” he said.

He noted that despite recurring tensions, “there was never a moment when things stood on the brink of collapse.”

Yet signs of strain are mounting. UKZN’s political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu noted that cabinet unity has been elusive, with sharp divisions on everything from the NHI Bill, BEE, to foreign policy, the Expropriation Bill, and the Budget. 

“It was always going to be a tall task to manage a cabinet with vastly different ideological outlooks and competing interests.

”They can’t agree on almost anything,” Ndlovu said. He added that Ramaphosa is “definitely being pulled in too many directions.”

Indeed, the presence of powerful opposition figures inside the executive has complicated decision-making. But not everyone sees that as a weakness.

Another analyst from UKZN, Siyabonga Ntombela, said the DA did not compromise its ideologies. Joining the GNU demonstrated a key tenet of liberalism: tolerance.

Ntombela sees the DA as an effective watchdog within the GNU, pointing to their opposition to key measures like the proposed VAT increase. “This will give the DA even more shine,” he said

”Look at all the bills and acts it opposes. The VAT increase, for example, would have gone ahead if not for the DA and EFF,” he said. 

“It has managed to hold the ANC accountable and expose corruption that has long been normalised.”

Still, the balancing act comes at a cost. With no fewer than ten political parties in the GNU, building consensus remains an uphill battle.

Neethling admits that maintaining cohesion will always be challenging, especially with cabinet members who have strong personalities and firmly held political convictions.

He insists Ramaphosa has done well under the circumstances: “A certain degree of consensus has been reached on how the country should be governed.”

The key question now is whether the GNU will be able to function as a cohesive government or slide into gridlock.

Analysts say the warning signs will be easy to spot- failure to pass legislation, increasing public frustration, and open clashes over budgets and policies.

Already, the approval of the national budget has exposed cracks in the unity project, though Neethling suggests that such disputes, while disruptive, are manageable.

“Much has been learned over the past year. Enough momentum and mutual understanding have now been built among the key role players,” Neethling added.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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