THE LOWLY NEWSPAPERMAN: Ramaphosa’s GNU survived an ANC rebellion, but Joburg will test everything
As local elections approach, the ANC’s weakened position and Johannesburg’s crisis will test whether Ramaphosa can keep the DA in government.
As South Africa's local elections loom, the African National Congress (ANC) is facing a series of challenges that will determine whether the governing party can maintain control of the Democratic Alliance (DA). In the winter of 2024, the SACP was vehemently opposed to the GNU, which stood as a testament to the ANC's weakened position.
South African Communist Party General Secretary Solly Mapaila was tirelessly campaigning for a coalition partner capable of rallying against the DA. His efforts were fruitless, as the ANC's national leadership had already been elected, and the SACP had no mandate to negotiate any deal. However, the GNU's survival is a testament to the maturity of its leaders and the necessity for national unity and stability.
Despite several setbacks, including a contentious Budget speech and ongoing legal disputes, the GNU has managed to persist. The biggest challenge has been gaining ANC approval during the National General Council (NGC) meetings. In 2025, the NGC deemed the GNU arrangement an unavoidable "tactical intervention" necessary for maintaining national unity and containing the DA's influence within the GNU.
As the 2026 local government election campaign heats up, the ANC and its partners are growing increasingly impatient with their lack of control over the GNU, despite the fact that the GNU is not theirs to dictate terms to.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
