ANC not in talks for coalition government – Mokonyane

Post-election coalitions don’t work for the ANC, says the party’s Deputy Secretary-General, Nomvula Mokonyane.

She says the ANC is not in talks with other parties about forming coalition governments, but the ruling party is open to working with anyone as long as they agree on “the task at hand,” says Mokonyane, according to Business Day.

COALITIONS UNSTABLE DUE TO LACK OF LEGISLATION – ANC

“A coalition government won’t work for now,” said Mokonyane, pointing to failed power-sharing attempts at the local government level where coalitions have largely proved unstable due to lack of legislation.

She said the ANC’s image had been tarnished in the past decade by economic stagnation, rising unemployment, and repeated corruption scandals involving its top officials.

Mokonyane said the party had learned from its mistakes, such as extending the electricity network to more people without boosting generation capacity or investing in renewables. 

‘WE ARE GOING TO WAR TO WIN,’ SAYS MOKONYANE

“We will not go to war having accepted defeat. We are going to war to win,” said the ANC veteran in an interview. She said the stakes were high for the ruling party because not everybody was comfortable with the ANC being in power.

Analysts say losing its majority might help wake South African politics’s sleeping giant from its deep sleep to ensure better service delivery.

The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Chief Whip, Siviwe Gwarube, says a legislative framework is needed to secure the stability of coalitions. 

COALITIONS CAUSE SYSTEMATIC SERVICE DELIVERY ISSUES: GWARUBE

She said failed coalitions caused systemic service delivery issues such as water shortages and infrastructure collapses.

“When we look at metros such as the City of Johannesburg, which has had several different mayors in a couple of months, it is clear that this vicious circle cannot continue if we hope to provide proper service delivery to the people,” Gwarube said.

Mokonyane said thirty years since the ANC took over government was not a (long) enough period to turn things around. 

‘THIRTY YEARS NOT ENOUGH TO TURN THINGS AROUND,’: ANC

Today, more than 30% of South Africans are unemployed, the murder rate is rising, and income inequality is among the highest in the world.

“The inequality that we see… it’s very stubborn,” she said. “We’ve tried to turn it around, and 30 years is not a (long) enough period to turn things around,” said Mokonyane.

Analysts say the possible coalition partners for the ANC may include the DA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).