Africa (Commonwelth Union)_In a significant political shift, South Africa’s new coalition government has brought together a Black president and a white opposition leader, symbolizing a push for unity in a country once brutally divided by racial segregation. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), one of the few white-led parties in South Africa, have formed a coalition, aiming to address the nation’s vast socioeconomic challenges. However, this coalition has also reignited racial tensions, with many Black South Africans uneasy about a white-led party’s re-emergence in government, a painful reminder of the apartheid era that ended 30 years ago but whose effects linger, particularly in poverty and inequality among the Black majority.
The ANC, which liberated South Africa from apartheid in 1994 under Nelson Mandela, saw its three-decade dominance end in the recent elections, necessitating a coalition with the DA, which secured the second-largest share of votes. This partnership is promoted as a step towards much-needed unity in South Africa. However, the DA’s inclusion has been contentious. Recently, the DA suspended white lawmaker Renaldo Gouws for racist slurs he made over a decade ago, highlighting the ongoing racial sensitivities and the party’s struggle with its image. The Congress of South African Trade Unions criticized the DA, suggesting it is lenient on racism and urging it to address such issues to be accepted as a coalition partner.
DA leader John Steenhuisen defended the party, arguing that its electoral success in a Black-majority country disproves claims that it caters only to white interests. Despite having Black and white lawmakers and supporters, the party’s commitment to Black South Africans has been questioned, especially since its last Black leader left in 2019. Political analyst Angelo Fick remarked that the DA is often perceived as embodying “whiteness” due to its perceived indifference to Black South Africans’ concerns about race.
Racial tensions have also been stoked by the MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which refused to join the coalition, accusing the DA of prioritizing white interests. EFF leader Julius Malema, who has previously made provocative statements about race, now emphasizes opposition to perceived “white privilege,” citing significant disparities in poverty rates between Black and white South Africans.
The coalition’s impact on the ANC is uncertain, as the party has already faced declining support due to unaddressed racial inequalities. Ramaphosa acknowledged the enduring divisions in his inauguration speech, emphasizing the need to overcome deep-seated inequalities and polarization. The ANC hopes the coalition will revive Mandela’s ideals of racial reconciliation and inclusivity. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula reiterated Mandela’s sentiment that race should not determine leadership, focusing instead on advancing the country. However, the coalition’s ability to navigate and heal the complex racial landscape of South Africa remains to be seen.
