South Africa is set for a general election in late May, with some polls suggesting that the governing African National Congress (ANC) could get less than 50% of the vote for the first time in 30 years. Critics of the party that led the fight against apartheid under Nelson Mandela have chipped away at its support, raising the possibility of a coalition government. The ANC, now led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, is under growing pressure due to high unemployment, persistent economic inequalities, corruption allegations, and frequent power cuts. High levels of violent crime have also dented confidence in the authorities.
The ANC has promised to create millions more jobs over the next five years, boost investment, support the private sector, and end corruption. The main opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are offering radical economic solutions to address unemployment and inequality. The EFF plans to redistribute land to the less well-off and nationalise mines, banks, and other vital parts of the economy, arguing that the wealth of the country would then be used to benefit the majority of the population.
Disgruntled former President Jacob Zuma has thrown his considerable political weight behind a fresh rival to the ANC, the MK party. The MK party pledges to transform South Africa, creating five million jobs. South Africans do not vote for a president as such, but each party leader fronts their national campaign, and their portrait will appear on the ballot paper. The leader of whichever party can muster a majority in the National Assembly after the election would be expected to become the next president.
In 2024, independent candidates will be included for the first time, meaning that South Africans will cast three votes: one for 200 of the seats with just political parties named on the ballot, one for the remaining 200 seats with a different ballot paper for each of the nine provinces, listing the parties in that region and independent candidates, and one for the independent candidates or parties in the regional legislature.
How would a coalition be formed in South Africa? The constitution does not specify how a coalition could be formed. Still, assuming the ANC remains the largest party, smaller groupings could informally agree to support an ANC government on a vote-by-vote basis in return for some concessions. Or, at the other end of possibilities, the ANC could enter a formal coalition with some parties, including a written agreement outlining legislative plans and the distribution of cabinet posts. Any other party would face the same choices.
In a pre-election deal, a group of parties led by the DA signed up to the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa, which, if they get more than 50% of the seats, they have already agreed to form a coalition.
