South Africa is at a crossroads, with the shadow of consensual democracy hanging over the Rainbow Nation, as no party has been able to secure enough votes to form a seventh government, plunging the country into political instability.
The stalemate has sparked debate over a consensual democracy through a Government of National Unity (GNU) or a coalition government, each with its own implications and potential impacts on the country's future.
First introduced in South Africa in 1994, GNUs are usually formed when multiple political parties come together to form a single government during a national crisis. The system theoretically aims to ensure stability and continuity during periods of severe political deadlock or national emergency. Such governments are often seen as a temporary solution aimed at promoting cooperation and unity to weather a crisis by consensus.
Details of what form the ANC envisages for a GNU have yet to be made public, but what is clear is that the other parties are looking forward to a consensus government that would operate on the principle of broad agreement and cooperation between the participating parties.
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The main aim is to foster a more inclusive decision-making process, ensuring that policies and actions are collectively agreed upon rather than dictated by a single dominant political party.
This type of government aims to balance power more fairly between different political factions. Switzerland has a consensus government system, often referred to as the “magic formula” of coalition and collective leadership. This system, which ensures representation of the major parties in the Federal Parliament, is credited with contributing to maintaining political stability and inclusive governance.
A coalition government, on the other hand, is a more formal arrangement in which multiple parties agree to work together, often leading to a power-sharing agreement in which cabinet positions and other key roles are divided between coalition partners.
This type of government is common when no party can secure a majority and a coalition is needed to form a functioning government. In Germany, coalition governments are formed frequently, such as the “grand coalition” between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democrats (SPD). These coalition governments have provided stable governance, but often involve significant negotiation and compromise on policy issues.
Restrictions and Conflicts
In theory, GNU or coalition governments could lead to more inclusive and balanced policymaking. However, the reality is often far from ideal. For example, coalition governments can be prone to internal conflicts and power struggles, leading to inefficiency and policy paralysis.
The need for constant negotiation and compromise can slow down the decision-making process and hinder the delivery of vital services to the public.
There are conditions imposed on this type of government form. The ANC being in talks with the DA, and having figures like Helen Zille, who led the party's negotiations with a controversial tweet in 2017 saying colonialism had been good, is already being seen as an affront to the spirit of national unity.
It is argued that such an alliance would not only undermine the credibility of the ANC but also alienate a large section of the population who see colonialism as an era of oppression and exploitation.The move is seen as counter to the very essence of unity and reconciliation that South Africa so desperately needs.
The EFF has made it clear that as a party hoping to form a coalition government, it has no intention of following Mandela's path and joining the GNU.
The ANC-DA alliance was also rejected by the ANC's alliance partner, trade union federation Cosatu, and by prominent ANC politicians including Lindiwe Sisulu, who considered cooperation with the DA a betrayal of ANC supporters, and was roundly condemned by the ANC in the Northern Cape.
Differences of opinion
In the chapter “4 Consensus Democracy: Pacifying and Acclimatizing” in Hendrix Frank’s Vital Democracy: A Theory of Democracy in Action (2010), he argues that contrary to popular belief, consensus government is built not on consensus but on disagreement – differences in beliefs and outlooks on life – which need to be carefully integrated.
It is a system about accommodation and reconciliation between people in different roles. Frank says, “In terms of advantages and disadvantages, consensus democracy is the opposite of pendulum democracy. Its core is controlled integration rather than quick decision-making, and its pitfall is stickiness rather than over-commitment.”
South Africa is at a crossroads. The path it chooses will have a significant impact on the country's future trajectory. Forming a unity or coalition government may seem like a solution, but the potential for inefficiency and internal conflict cannot be ignored.
The focus must remain on service delivery, national unity and meeting the needs of our people.
Citizens First
Apart from concerns that the ANC should not negotiate with parties such as the DA, what else would voters want as terms for a GNU or coalition government?
In my view, whatever form of government is agreed upon, if it does not serve the public interest and the mandate of the people, it must be rejected.
Perhaps those who strongly advocate a GNU or coalition government need to be reminded of the following reality and be informed that they can only be sure of their success by addressing the following fears as a mandate of a people who have decided that no party is worthy of winning enough votes to form a government on its own:
- Firstly, it must be acknowledged that South Africa has made great strides in empowering women and promoting gender equality. The country has a strong legal framework that supports women’s rights, including a constitution that guarantees gender equality, and specific laws such as the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act and the Domestic Violence Act.
But for many women, the reality is quite different. Despite these legal protections, gender gaps persist in many areas, including employment, wages and political participation. Women remain underrepresented in senior management positions and experience higher unemployment rates than men. Moreover, cultural and societal norms continue to prevent true gender equality, with many women facing discrimination and limited access to opportunities.
- Gender-based violence (GBV) is a widespread issue in South Africa, with shockingly high rates of domestic violence, sexual assault and femicide. The criminal justice system often does not adequately respond to GBV, and victims face many barriers to reporting abuse and achieving justice.
Police and courts are often unable to provide victims with the support and protection they need, leading to low conviction rates and a lack of holding perpetrators to account. Indeed, this was recently confirmed by the Public Protector in an investigative report into administrative shortcomings in the handling of GBV-related matters within South Africa's criminal justice system.
- Youth unemployment in South Africa is a serious problem, with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. Structural factors, including a lack of employment opportunities, inadequate education and skills training, and a stagnant economy, have contributed to the crisis. Government efforts have had limited success in reversing these trends.
High youth unemployment has significant social and economic implications, contributing to increased poverty, social unrest and youth disillusionment. Without substantial and effective intervention, this problem threatens the country's long-term growth and stability.
- South Africa's education system remains highly unequal, reflecting the legacy of apartheid. While schools in wealthy areas are well-resourced and provide a high-quality education, many schools in poor, predominantly black areas are poorly equipped, have poorly trained teachers and lack basic resources.
These disparities are leading to a widening achievement gap between students from different socio-economic backgrounds. Despite policies aimed at improving equity in education, progress has been slow. The quality of education in many public schools remains low, hindering the academic and professional futures of millions of children.
- It is a long-standing issue that many of South Africa's rural schools face serious infrastructure and sanitation problems. Inadequate facilities, including collapsing buildings, a shortage of classrooms and lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation, are common in disadvantaged areas. These conditions have a negative impact on students' health, safety and ability to learn effectively.
The government is trying to address these issues through efforts such as the Accelerated School Infrastructure Development Initiative, but progress has been slow and uneven, hampered by budget constraints, mismanagement, and corruption.
- Access to safe, clean water remains a major issue, especially in rural areas and informal settlements. While urban areas generally have good access to clean water, many communities still face issues with intermittent supplies and contamination. Rural areas often lack proper infrastructure, forcing them to rely on unsafe water sources. The residents of Hammanskraal in Tshwane are living testimony to the lack of access to safe drinking water, an issue that has been widely reported.
- South Africa's electricity supply is plagued by challenges, with problems within the state-owned power company Eskom resulting in frequent blackouts and load-shedding being the norm. While most urban households have access to electricity, many rural areas and informal settlements remain without reliable electricity.
Efforts to expand access to electricity and improve reliability are often undermined by ageing infrastructure, financial mismanagement and corruption within Eskom. Interestingly, CityPower, the electricity supplier to the City of Johannesburg, has already warned that it will impose “load shedding” on residents to “prevent a total collapse of the grid.”
- Corruption remains a pervasive problem in South Africa, affecting all levels of government and across sectors. Anti-corruption efforts such as the work of the Zondo Commission have revealed the scale of the problem, but translating findings into action and accountability remains a challenge.
Corruption undermines service delivery, economic development and social equality and is therefore a major issue that requires urgent and sustained intervention. Will the GNU government or coalition government ever find the courage to tackle corrupt practices, including intra-party corruption, decisively?
A renewed focus on transparency, accountability and inclusive development is essential if the country is to realize its potential and improve the lives of its people.
Putting emphasis on personal ambition and power over the public interest undermines the very purpose of the GNU and coalition governments. Such an approach will erode public trust as politicians will be seen to prioritise personal interests over the needs of the people.
Leaders who are driven by personal or party objectives may prioritise short-term profits over long-term, sustainable policies that benefit the people. Leaders who are driven by self-interest rather than public responsibility raise serious ethical concerns, especially when corruption is rampant as leaders use their positions to enrich themselves, or when leaders focus on their personal roles rather than the public interest instead of setting ethical standards, undermining the moral authority needed to lead effectively. DM
