The African National Congress (ANC), which lost the parliamentary majority it had held for three decades in last month's elections, must share power for the first time since the end of white minority rule if it wants to continue governing South Africa.
As the party of the late Nelson Mandela scrambles to unite a patchwork of former rivals in favor of a government of national unity rather than a traditional coalition government, here's a timeline of what's expected to happen next.
What's happening now? The ANC will form a new political alliance before the new parliament's first session, scheduled for Friday 14 June, after which lawmakers will elect a speaker, likely to come from the largest party, the ANC.
Following its poor electoral performance, the ANC needs to welcome at least one major rival on board as a future partner. It is in negotiations with parties across the political spectrum, from the free-market Democratic Alliance (DA) to the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). But major ideological differences and, in some cases, long-standing animosity complicate things.
The main opposition DA has said it will not join a coalition with the EFF or former President Jacob Zuma's Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, which surprisingly came third in last month's elections. The EFF has said it will not join a government that would include the DA and the two parties that have the backing of South Africa's white minority, Freedom Front Plus.
Meanwhile, MK has said it will not partner with the ANC if Zuma's rival, Cyril Ramaphosa, who became president in 2018, takes over as leader. The ANC has said Ramaphosa's position is unyielding. Parliament will convene and elect a president.
The 400-seat National Assembly meets for the first time on Friday, when lawmakers will be sworn in before electing a speaker, deputy speaker and president. The ANC won just 159 seats, short of a majority, so will need to find the support of new political allies to retain the presidency.
Under South African law, presidential candidates are nominated by members of parliament. If only one candidate is nominated, that candidate is elected. But if there is more than one candidate, lawmakers hold a secret ballot and a candidate needs the support of a majority of lawmakers to be elected president. Zuma's MK party has filed a petition in the Supreme Court to block Parliament from convening. Despite winning 55 seats, more than expected, MK alleges there were irregularities in the election, which observers and the electoral commission said was free and fair.
Presidential Inauguration Ceremony Usually within a few days after the end of the first session of Parliament, the newly elected President is sworn in at an inauguration ceremony. He will lead the seventh government since the end of apartheid and the advent of multiracial democracy.
Cabinet Selection Negotiations to form a national unity government will determine the composition of the executive branch, which is expected to bring about major reforms.
Political parties will negotiate the terms of their preferred posts, positions and cabinet nominees, which the new president will announce in the first few days of his term. Key ministries such as finance, energy, foreign affairs and public enterprises are the most coveted positions.
Prior to the election, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, Minister in the President's Office Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel had all announced their intention to resign. South African law states that the president, who has the sole power to appoint the cabinet and the deputy president, can only have two people elected outside parliament.
Once the Cabinet is announced, the President, in consultation with the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Speakers of the Provincial Assembly, will set a date for the Opening of Parliament Address, which will outline the new administration's governing priorities and mark the start of a new five-year parliamentary term.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
