South African political parties have agreed to form a government of national unity after the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in the most competitive election since the end of apartheid. The collaboration between parties from across the political spectrum has thrust the country into uncharted territory, as the ANC will have to share power for the first time in the democratic era. President Cyril Ramaphosa, re-elected for a second five-year term with the help of smaller parties, is expected to give other parties cabinet positions in return for backing the government he now leads.
The 10 parties that make up the unity government include the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Freedom Front Plus (FF+), United Democratic Movement (UDM), Rise Mzansi, Al Jama-ah, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), and Good.
The ANC, the legacy liberation movement of Nelson Mandela, won the most votes in the May 29 election but saw its support slide due to voter frustration over issues like power cuts and a strong showing by a new party backed by former President Jacob Zuma. The DA won the second-most votes last month, getting 87 seats in the lower house of parliament.
The PA, known for its hardline stance on immigration, won nine National Assembly seats. The FF+, with six seats, made a pre-election pact with the DA, IFP, and others to try to keep the ANC out of power but last week said it had decided to join the unity government to help "restore and rebuild South Africa."
