South Africa’s main coalition partners are at loggerheads just weeks after agreeing to share power, as President Cyril Ramaphosa accuses the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen of trying to create a ‘parallel government’ in violation of the Constitution.
He is said to have made the explosive accusation in a letter to Mr Steenhuisen on June 25, which was seen by local media.
Markets have tumbled on news of the deepening rift, at a time when the African National Congress (ANC) and Ramaphosa’s DA are expected to divide cabinet posts and settle into office.
When the ANC failed to win an outright majority in last month’s elections, the main opposition party (DA) agreed to form a national unity government that would keep President Ramaphosa in power – in exchange for getting cabinet positions by DA politicians.
The ANC also subsequently signed a coalition agreement with eight smaller parties, with Ramaphosa under pressure to include at least some of them in his cabinet.
According to local media reports, Mr Ramaphosa wrote his angry letter after making the DA a final offer of six cabinet posts.
The prosecutor then demanded two more posts, the News24 website reports, angering the ANC’s top brass.
Mr Ramaphosa’s letter accused the DA leader of “moving the goalposts” during the negotiation process.
Local media also reported that Mr Ramaphosa had made good on his promise to give the DA the Ministry of Trade and Industry, a key post to boost South Africa’s struggling economy.
In response to this criticism, News 24 says, DA leaders told Ramaphosa that the “deal will not go through” unless he adheres to the previous agreement the two sides made.
The current row is causing consternation as South Africa enters alien political territory.
The ANC has lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since coming to power after the end of the racist apartheid system in 1994.
It received 40% of the vote, while the DA received 22%.
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