Beyond the Polls: Insights into South Africa's Coalition Government

At the end of May, South Africans went to the polls for national and provincial elections that marked a significant shift in the country's political landscape. After more than two decades of waning voter support, the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority in the National Assembly. This historic change for a party that has held unitary control over the executive branch since the first racially inclusive post-apartheid elections in 1994. In this recent vote, however, the ANC secured just 40% of the national vote and 159 out of 400 seats in the National Assembly. This necessitated the formation of a coalition government, wherein the ANC retains 20 out of 32 cabinet posts, the Democratic Alliance holds 6, and the remaining portfolios are shared among smaller parties (click here to see the new National Executive). To delve into what this historic election and the new coalition government mean for investors and businesses operating in and around South Africa, Ipeleng Selele, Chairperson of Brand South Africa; Seamus Duggan, Director for Global Risk Analysis at Control Risks; and Jeff Gable, Chief Economist at Absa, share their insights on the election results, new cabinet, and the challenges and opportunities for investors and businesses created by this new political landscape in South Africa.