South Africa announces new government, opposition gets 12 ministries

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his new government on Sunday, with the opposition securing 12 of 32 portfolios following difficult coalition negotiations after the ruling ANC lost its parliamentary majority.

The African National Congress, which has governed the country since the advent of democracy in 1994, retained 20 of the 32 ministerial posts, including key ministries such as foreign affairs, finance, defence, justice and police.

The coalition’s largest partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA), will hold six portfolios, including home affairs, environment and public works.

DA leader John Steenhuisen, 48, was appointed Minister of Agriculture.

Ramaphosa on the day of his inauguration ceremony for his second term as South African president, in Pretoria, South Africa on June 19. Photo: Reuters — Ramaphosa during his inauguration ceremony for his second term as South African president, in Pretoria, South Africa, June 19. Photo: Reuters

The Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and other smaller parties scored six in total, including for land reform, corrections, sports, tourism and public service.

“The creation of the Government of National Unity in its current form is unprecedented in the history of our democracy,” said Ramaphosa, 71, speaking from Pretoria in a televised address.

He was re-elected for a second full term last week, to lead what his humble ANC calls a government of national unity (GNU) after losing its absolute majority in a May 29 general election.

“The new government will prioritize rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and creating a fairer society by tackling poverty and inequality as well as unemployment,” he said.

He added that he had to “ensure that all parties are able to participate meaningfully in the national executive as well as in various parliamentary positions.”

Ramaphosa, right, and opposition Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen, left. Photo: South African GCIS via AP — Ramaphosa (right) and opposition Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen (left). Photo: South African GCIS via AP

The only other time South Africa opted for a government of national unity at the end of apartheid, with Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk, the former head of government, overseeing the transition to democracy as executive vice-presidents.

The ANC’s fall from grace occurred against a backdrop of high violent crime rates, a sluggish economy and a crippling energy crisis.

Ramaphosa’s much-anticipated announcement comes after weeks of tough negotiations between the ANC and the DA, which won 87 parliamentary seats (22 percent of the popular vote) to the ANC’s 159 (40 percent).

The turbulent preparations for the country’s new government have been criticized by the country’s left-wing parties, notably the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, a new group formed months before the vote by the country’s former president Jacob Zuma, 82.

South Africans gather ahead of the inauguration of President Ramaphosa in Pretoria, South Africa on June 19. Photo: AP — South Africans gather ahead of President Ramaphosa’s inauguration in Pretoria, South Africa, June 19. Photo: AP

The MK party came from nowhere to win more than 14 percent of the national vote in a tense election and will now be the country’s official opposition after refusing to join the broad ANC coalition.

Like the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), he rejected the ANC’s broad coalition with the DA as an “unholy white-led alliance.”

The ANC had previously accused the DA of making “outrageous demands” for key cabinet positions in documents leaked to the press after weeks of closed-door negotiations.

Ramaphosa called for the new parliament to open on July 18 to address MPs and set guidelines for how his new coalition government, involving 11 parties, will work.