Key Takeaways
- The African National Congress (ANC) prioritized engaging with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) after the 2024 national elections.
- The ANC’s negotiation team met with the EFF four times, but the talks were ultimately unsuccessful due to the EFF’s antagonistic demands and refusal to adhere to standard negotiation processes.
- The EFF’s primary condition for partnership was gaining the Deputy President position, which the ANC rejected.
- The ANC eventually formed a Government of National Unity (GNU) with a broader coalition of parties, excluding the EFF.
- The GNU consists of the ANC, DA, IFP, PA, VF Plus, UDM, Al Jama Ah, PAC, GOOD, and RISE.
Introduction to the ANC’s Post-Election Strategy
Following the landmark 2024 national elections, the African National Congress (ANC) found itself in a precarious position, having lost its majority in the National Assembly. In an effort to form a functioning government of national unity (GNU), the party’s leadership scrambled to engage with other political formations. According to Nomvula Mokonyane, the ANC’s Deputy Secretary General (DSG), the party’s initial focus was on the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a far-left party that had splintered from the ANC. The EFF, led by former ANC Youth League President Julius Malema, had made significant gains in the election, and the ANC recognized the importance of securing their support.
The ANC’s Negotiation Strategy
The ANC’s National Executive Committee put together a negotiating team, mandated to engage with all parties, with the EFF being the first point of contact. Mokonyane, who was part of the negotiating team, confirmed that the EFF was the first party they interacted with, and that the ANC was "very ready" to work with them. The ANC’s willingness to collaborate with the EFF was motivated by the fact that the two parties collectively held 198 seats in the 400-seat National Assembly. The South African Communist Party (SACP), a tripartite alliance partner of the ANC, had also advised the party to prioritize the EFF, in order to prevent the loss of state power.
The Breakdown of Talks with the EFF
However, the talks between the ANC and the EFF quickly revealed deep fissures and antagonistic intentions. According to Mokonyane, the EFF’s willingness to engage was met with counter-intending demands and aggressive tactics. The EFF tabled specific, non-negotiable demands, including the Deputy President position, which the ANC rejected. The EFF’s negotiation team, led by Floyd Shivambu, delivered a stark warning to the ANC, stating that their intention was to "strangle, kill, and bury" the party. The ANC’s negotiating team was taken aback by the EFF’s adversarial stance, and the talks ultimately broke down.
The Formation of the Government of National Unity
The failure of the talks with the EFF led the ANC to adopt a broader strategy, engaging with nearly every elected party, including those with only one representative. The resulting Government of National Unity (GNU) consists of the ANC, DA, IFP, PA, VF Plus, UDM, Al Jama Ah, PAC, GOOD, and RISE. The EFF claimed that it turned down the coalition due to the inclusion of the DA and VF Plus. Mokonyane noted that the ANC’s negotiation strategy involved signing separate Statements of Intent with each participating party, rather than agreeing to a single grand coalition document signed by all. This approach allowed the ANC to consolidate its influence and retain key executive positions, despite its weakened electoral performance.
Conclusion and Analysis
The ANC’s experience with the EFF serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of coalition building in a fragmented political landscape. The EFF’s antagonistic demands and refusal to adhere to standard negotiation processes ultimately led to the breakdown of talks. The ANC’s decision to form a broader coalition, excluding the EFF, has significant implications for the country’s political landscape. While the ANC has managed to retain its influence, the EFF’s exclusion from the GNU may lead to increased polarization and opposition in the National Assembly. As the country navigates this new political reality, it remains to be seen how the ANC’s GNU will function, and whether the EFF’s opposition will be able to effectively challenge the ruling party.