OPINION: Will a Government of National Unity work?
Well-known author and resident is of the view that only time will tell if the Government of National Unity will work out or not.
• Thabile Mange writes:
I’m not a pessimist but an optimist. However, I’m not sure if South Africa is coming or going. I’m also not sure if the Government of National Unity (is it GNU or coalition?) will work. I hope it will work, for the sake of our country, children and generations to come.
Since the May 29 general elections, there has been – and there still is – a political drama in our country. Former president Jacob Zuma’s MK Party and its gang are pulling this way, while the ANC and its crew are pulling the other way, saying this and that. It’s all about political power.
The official opposition party and second most powerful political organisation in the country, DA, is part of the GNU. However, seemingly, the DA wants to dictate terms on how other political parties, and which political organisations, should be part of the government. According to it, it has signed a deal to that effect with Cyril Ramaphosa’s party. Is it more equal than others?
On the other hand, the ANC said it’s the leader of the GNU because it has garnered 40% votes. And that it has invited other parties to be part of this government. So, the DA is just making noise and creating an impression that it is tacitly the leader of GNU, it further said. Who should we believe?
The MK Party, EFF, UDM, ATM and others have formed a pact, which is against the GNU. They accuse the ANC of sleeping with the “racist DA”. (Didn’t the EFF sleep with the DA in Joburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni?) The MK Party has threatened to take the governing party to court for forming a Government of National Unity with the official opposition party. Wow!
Interestingly, the ATM has one seat in parliament (no improvement from the last five-year term), and it has taken the IEC to court for allegedly rigging election results. In the last five-year term, the same ATM also took President Ramaphosa to court for the Phalaphala scandal. Punching above its weight?
More interestingly, the PAC of “expropriation of land without compensation” fame has joined the GNU. I did not see that one coming. The PAC has never had a cabinet post in the democratic government. Now it has seen an opportunity of grabbing one and it’s taking advantage of it. Why not.
After President Ramaphosa’s inauguration, and confirmation that the ANC and DA will form part of the GNU (alliance partners, SACP and Cosatu, are not happy with the latter being part of the GNU), the rand strengthened, after a long time, an indication that the markets are happy with the country’s political developments. Is this a sign of better things to come? Only time will tell.
