On May 29, South Africa faces pivotal elections, potentially shifting power dynamics as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) may lose its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994. Post-election coalition politics loom large, impacting governance and future policy direction.
The incoming government faces some formidable challenges, including slow economic growth, high unemployment, power supply problems, and crime. Party divisions, moreover, exacerbate the ANC’s struggles in addressing these issues.
In our latest white paper, South Africa’s Elections: Coalition Ahead?, we examine the implications of potential ANC electoral outcomes and subsequent coalition formations. We analyse the ANC’s legitimacy and the prospects for policy reform within a coalition government, as well as its dynamics with emerging parties like uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), led by former President Jacob Zuma.
