South Africa's Coalition Government One Year On — Can the GNU Survive Its First Real Test?

It's been a full year since that historic June 2024 moment when the ANC, DA, and IFP stitched together the Government of National Unity. Late-night negotiations, hopeful handshakes, and enough political drama to fill a season of television. The question: can this coalition hold when the real tests hit?

The June 2024 Formation

After the May 2024 elections left no clear winner, President Cyril Ramaphosa sat down with DA leader John Steenhuisen and IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa. By 14 June 2024 the GNU was born, promising stability and reform.

Key Policy Battles

Clashes emerged over the national budget and energy plans. In March 2025 the DA pushed for private sector involvement in rail while the ANC defended state control. IFP voices added rural priorities. These fights produced compromises that kept the lights on through winter.

Economic Indicators

GDP expanded 1.7 percent in the 2024/25 fiscal year. Unemployment eased to 31.8 percent. Foreign direct investment climbed 12 percent to R85 billion. Inflation held steady at 4.5 percent.

Land Reform and 2029 Elections

Land remains the emotional heart of the story. February 2025 saw renewed debates over expropriation targets. Every policy win or stumble now shapes voter memory for 2029. If the economy keeps ticking upward, this experiment might become the model for future coalitions.

— Dante Williams, Correspondent