▶️ The original article was first published on Elitsha and co-published with Amandla magazine
EXPLAINER: “NEO-LIBERAL POLICIES” refer to a set of economic and political ideas that centre on free-market capitalism involving privatisation of public assets, deregulating government law and rule over private business, free global trade by reducing costs, tax cuts for private business and wealthy classes and less public spending on social services like education and health.
The authors of this article Mazibuko Kanyiso Jara and Gunnett Kaaf say that after the May 29 general elections, South Africa finds itself with a coalition government formed by the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), rather than a genuine Government of National Unity (GNU). This coalition, which includes other smaller parties, arose because the ANC’s reduced vote share meant it could not govern alone, and the DA sought to diminish the ANC’s dominance to gain power.
They say this coalition is an elite pact, not a democratic, people-led process. It is seen as a top-down imposition, lacking broad public consultation or acceptance. The ANC-DA deal is criticized for being unstable and unlikely to bring real social unity or cohesion. They explain that South Africa is grappling with deep social and political crises: high unemployment, poverty, inequality, slow land reform, poor service delivery, a prolonged energy crisis, and climate challenges. These issues have eroded public trust in the ANC, which has pursued neo-liberal policies since before the 1994 democratic elections, exacerbated by widespread corruption.
The authors explain that voters did not elect a clear successor to the ANC, leading to a political crisis where the ruling elite is now trying to maintain control. This coalition government does not meet the historical conditions for a genuine GNU, which typically emerge from significant historical events like the end of apartheid or a stalemate after conflict, as seen in Zimbabwe in 2008.
They say that 1994 GNU in South Africa was a transitional mechanism to manage the shift from apartheid to democracy, unlike the current coalition, which does not play such a transitional role. The ANC-DA coalition is a result of no party winning a majority in the 2024 elections, rather than a special historical circumstance. This coalition serves the power interests of the political elite, aiming to continue neo-liberal policies. The DA has openly supported protecting President Ramaphosa, indicating narrow party interests rather than genuine national unity.
The public’s acceptance of this coalition has not been tested, and it has faced resistance within the ANC itself. It is supported by only a minority of voters, leaving a significant portion of the electorate feeling excluded. For working-class and poor communities, it is crucial to recognize that this coalition is unlikely to address their needs. Essential services and economic redistribution may be sacrificed in favor of market and investor interests. True change requires revolutionary measures like wealth redistribution and state-led industrialization, which the current coalition is unlikely to pursue.
They say it is that it is important that there is an understanding of the the ANC-DA coalition that assists poor communities, workers, and the unemployed to critically engage with and resist policies that do not serve their interests, ensuring their needs and voices are not overlooked in the guise of national unity.
Jara and Kaaf are Marxists located in the Zabalaza Pathways Institute (www.zabalazapathways.online)
This article is based on an input that benefited from 2 webinar discussions: one convened by Zabalaza for Socialism held on June 16 and another webinar co-hosted on June 18 by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, My Vote Counts and the Zabalaza Pathways Institute.
