While ten out of the eighteen parties represented in Parliament have chosen to form part of the seventh administration’s wide-ranging co-governing agreement, labelled the Government of National Unity (GNU), eight have opted to sit on the opposition benches.
The parties that have turned down the GNU include:
- uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK);
- Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF);
- ActionSA;
- African Christian Democratic Movement (ACDP);
- National Coloured Congress (NCC);
- Build One South Africa (BOSA);
- African Transformation Movement (ATM):
- and the United Africans Transformation (UAT).
These eight political parties, which make up the opposition, hold a combined 113 (28.25%) of the 400 seats in Parliament.
Due to their many ideologically disparate views, these eight opposition parties are not forming one united opposition to counter the GNU.
However, there has been an attempt at unifying under the banner of the so-called “progressive caucus.”
The formation of the co-governing agreement resulted from no single political party achieving an outright majority in the May 29th general elections, with the African National Congress (ANC) dropping to just over 39% of support nationally.
Although the ANC invited all parties in Parliament to agree to the principles and sign the statement of intent for the GNU, several declined the invitation for various reasons.
Those who have agreed to form part of the GNU collectively hold 287 (71.75%) out of 400 seats in Parliament, giving them a supermajority—which is one of the key reasons some have opted to steer away from the GNU.
“Progressive caucus“
The MK Party, EFF, ATM and UAT, making up a combined 100 seats (25%) in Parliament, have formed the self-titled “progressive caucus,” purportedly to push for ideologically left policies.
The parties in the caucus have made it explicit that none of them would work with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF+), who are currently part of the GNU.
Additionally, the MK Party has expressed refusal to work with the current leadership of the ANC – including newly elected president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Following the announcement of the GNU, the caucus was established as an alternative group of parties that the ANC could form a majority government, saying that those currently part of the co-governing agreement are ‘not ideologically compatible to work with the ANC.’
However, since then, the progressive caucus has lost its pull.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM), Al Jama-ah and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) left the grouping to form part of the GNU.
ATM president, Vuyolwethu Zungula, said that despite this, the progressive caucus has remained intact, arguing that it “would be bad for democracy” if all represented parties joined the GNU and would sit on the opposition benches “to hold the government to account.”
ActionSA, ACDP, BOSA and NCC
ActionSA, ACDP and BOSA leaders recently told eNCA various reasons why they have not signed the agreement.
In the initial discussions around the formation of the GNU, ActionSA publicly disclosed its decision not to engage, citing adherence to its electoral commitment of not aligning with the ANC.
Party chairperson Michael Beaumont highlighted that ActionSA believes that it should maintain an opposition presence in Parliament to ensure accountability, in light of the GNU’s significant majority vote share, which exceeds 70%.
Kenneth Meshoe, the ACDP leader, also articulated reasons for his party’s non-participation in the GNU, primarily the refusal to collaborate with the ANC and a commitment to accountability.
Meshoe referenced the current economic and unemployment challenges as factors complicating cooperation with the ruling party’s approach to governance.
Mmusi Maimane, the BOSA leader, pointed out concerns regarding what he believes is a lack of defined plans for the country’s next phase of administration, suggesting that involvement seemed to focus more on negotiating positions rather than committing to a cohesive plan of action for South Africa.
Maimane said that if his party were to join the GNU, a dialogue between all political parties would be necessary to “piece together that plan”.
Fadiel Adams, NCC leader, stated his party’s objection to joining the GNU due to its inclusion of certain parties, specifically highlighting the difficulty of aligning with groups on the political right.
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