Page 12 - The Indian EYE 071924

OPINION JULY 19, 2024 | The Indian Eye 12

while ANC secured 19% of votes. De-
spite this, no opposition party was able
to achieve majority, as the key opposi-
tion parties such as the centrist Dem-
ocratic Alliance and the left leaning
Economic Freedom Fighters have not
been able to achieve significant growth
in their voter base from the previous
elections. DA received 21%votes in
the current elections which is only
slightly higher than its 2019 voting
share of 20%. According to many an-
alysts, this is due to the rise of multi-
ple new political parties, attracting
the voters within the constituencies of
the established political parties. Ac-
cording to the Election Commission
of South Africa, out of the 70 politi-
cal parties that contested the elections
this year, with around 30 new politi-
cal parties having registered in 2024. South Africa, in particular, through its membership of BRICS grouping has played a key role as far as putting forward the interests of the
Global South at the forefront (File photo)
Challenges of a Coalition strongly opposed by DA, claiming that has a pro- Palestine stance, while the and creating the employment oppor-

ith the formation of the it has failed miserably as it has major- DA due to its pro- western position, tunities for the youth will be the key
Government of National ly benefitted the politically connected maintains ambiguity over the issue. priority of the coalition government.
WUnity, South Africa has en- black elites. Besides, DA had also The Democratic Alliance opposed, Both ANC and DA have outlined
tered into a new political era. This his- previously opposed several other bills the ANC’s decision to take Israel to several measures to bring about an in-
toric coalition which comprises both of ANC such as the ANC led National the International Court of Justice and clusive economic growth and develop-
African National Congress and Dem- Health Insurance fund and the Land maintains that DA stands in solidarity ment such as implementation of an in-
ocratic Alliance, required substantial Expropriation Bill. with the two-state solution and rejects dustrial strategy that will drive growth
compromise from both the major any sentiment which seeks to annihi- and create opportunities for the youth
parties. Initially, ANC proposed a Implications for the Foreign and late either Israel or Palestine. Other of South Africa. According to experts,
Confidence and Supply agreement, Domestic Policies opposition parties, such as uMkhu- there will be a continuity as far as do-
which was rejected by the rest of the nto weSizwe and Economic Freedom mestic policies are concerned given
parties in the coalition and which n the issues related to foreign Fighters, have expressed their soli- that the Democratic Alliance holds
claimed that there is need for a gen- policy, there are major ideo- darity with Palestine and have called 87 parliamentary seats compared with
uine power sharing agreement. After Ological differences which exist on South Africa to work with BRICS ANC which holds 159 seats, hence
much deliberation, the parties agreed between the two major coalition part- countries to explore alternative cur- it will not demand any new policy or
to sign a Framework Agreement that ners, ANC and DA. South Africa, in rencies. Similarly on the issue of Rus- push for a radical change as it does not
will govern the Unity Government. particular, through its membership of sia- Ukraine Conflict, there are ideo- have the political muscle to do so.
The agreement maintained that a de- BRICS grouping has played a key role logical divergences that exists between
cision could only be made once the as far as putting forward the interests ANC and DA. While ANC remains Conclusion
consensus is reached. This implies of the Global South at the forefront. neutral over the Russia Ukraine crisis, his is for the first time that there
that President Ramaphosa will not During the 15th BRICS Summit the DA, on the other hand. has con- is a Coalition Government in
be able to take decision without the that was held in South Africa in 2023, demned Russia and has claimed that TSouth Africa. The inclusive
consent of the coalition partners. Be- the grouping expanded to include, it is in South Africa’s interests to stand model of the National Unity Govern-
sides the parties agreed to 10 Guiding Iran, Argentina, Egypt, Saudi Arabia with the free world. ment comes with its own set of chal-
Principles which includes respect for and UAE. The Democratic Alliance At the domestic front, South lenges. The effectiveness of the coa-
the Constitution. Ramaphosa’s an- objected to this decision stating that Africa is experiencing a sluggish eco- lition government will depend upon
nouncement of his multiparty cabinet the ANC led government did not nomic growth with the national trea- the approach the African National
is the reflection of this wherein six outline any evaluation criteria, which sury placing GDP growth at 1.4% Congress and Democratic Alliance
cabinet portfolios are held by Demo- guided South Africa’s support to the for 2024. The unemployment rates take to steer through these challeng-
cratic Alliance (DA), which was once new members, particularly with re- remain high at 31.9% and the youth es and build consensus to work to-
the main opposition party. gard to Iran and Saudi Arabia. The unemployment being 41.6%. Heavy wards a common goal. Thus, there is
The internal tensions within the DA claimed that it is not clear that, debt, the high cost of living, increas-
coalition also pose a challenge. All what common vision does South Af- ing fuel and food prices and rising a need for both the African National
Congress and Democratic Alliance to
the parties of the coalition have been rica share with these countries which unemployment is putting pressure on ensure the stability in governance in
urged to find common minimum are fundamentally opposed to the the financial stability of the country. South Africa.
agenda given that their ideas of gov- democratic values which South Afri- In South Africa, currently, the fiscal
ernance are extremely diverse. For cans hold sacred. space is constrained by weak revenues Dr. Gauri Narain Mathur is a Research
instance, one could look at the Black As far as the Israel-Gaza conflict and the increasing debt-servicing cost. Associate at Indian Council of World
Economic Empowerment Initiative is concerned, the ANC led govern- The debt share of GDP has reached Affairs, New Delhi
that was launched by ANC, with an ment had accused Israel of commit- up to 73.7% in 2024, which was 51.5%
objective to advance economic trans- ting genocide on Palestinians and had in 2018, with debt servicing placing a This article first appeared in the View-
formation and to improve the rep- pleaded to the International Court of major burden on the government. point section of the website (www.icwa.
resentation of black people in South Justice, to immediately halt Israel’s Thus, tackling high cost of living in) of Indian Council of World Affairs,
Africa’s economy. This initiative was military operations. Thus, the ANC with an inclusive economic growth New Delhi, on July 9, 2024

www.TheIndianEYE.com