Government of National Unity: A disaster waiting to happen

By Michael Andisile Mayalo

As South Africa approaches the critical juncture of 2025, the idea of a Government of National Unity (GNU) has evolved from a noble vision to a political quagmire, perpetuating the issues it was designed to resolve. Initially conceived as a solution to the country’s deep political divisions, the GNU now stands as an embodiment of compromise and opportunism. The promises of unity, economic prosperity, and social cohesion have all been swallowed up by the pragmatic politics of power-sharing. It is becoming painfully clear that South Africa’s future is being sacrificed on the altar of political expediency, and the nation is unlikely to survive this political experiment intact.

False hope

The Government of National Unity was birthed out of necessity in the 1990s. Its purpose was to bring together a fractured society to heal the wounds of a nation divided along racial, economic, and political lines. In 2025, however, it is clear that the ideal of national unity has been all but obliterated. Instead of fostering cooperation, the current iteration of the GNU has turned into a deeply fragmented and ineffective coalition of political actors more interested in holding onto power than in addressing the needs of the people.

A GNU should represent a broad cross-section of society. It should unite different political parties, social groups, and economic interests for the common good. But in practice, the GNU has become a fractured alliance of opposing forces, with each partner in the coalition more concerned with political survival than national unity. The compromises required to maintain this fragile coalition have watered down policies, delayed progress, and ultimately, stifled the transformation South Africa so desperately needs.

DA and the politics of compromise

The Democratic Alliance (DA), which initially prided itself on offering a clean break from the corruption-riddled African National Congress (ANC), has found itself locked into the same political calculus that doomed the GNU in the first place. The DA’s desire to build a broad-based coalition and secure its place in national politics has forced it into a series of untenable compromises.

The DA faces an existential crisis. As it attempts to expand its support base and become a more influential player in South Africa’s political landscape, it is increasingly forced to make deals with parties that it fundamentally disagrees with, not out of conviction, but out of necessity. This compromises the DA’s ability to create the clear and consistent policies South Africa needs. From economic policy to the question of land reform, the DA’s once-clear positions have been watered down in the face of coalition demands, alienating their traditional support base while failing to convince new voters that they can be the agents of change.

The party’s tactical decisions — the political compromises — have alienated voters across the spectrum. Their once-promised vision of a free-market economy and efficient government is diluted by the compromises made with left-wing factions that advocate for state-driven policies. In a desperate attempt to placate the rich and the poor, the DA risks alienating both. In the process, the unity it was supposed to bring has become an illusion, and the cracks within its coalition will be exposed more sharply as the country moves closer to 2025.

A Nation on the Brink

The truth is that the GNU has become synonymous with stagnation. Political gridlock, the inability to make tough decisions, and the constant compromise to maintain fragile alliances have led to a paralysed government in the face of mounting challenges. South Africa’s escalating unemployment crisis, corruption scandals, and declining social services are all symptoms of a political system that is too caught up in internal power struggles to respond to the needs of the people.

The GNU coalition in 2025 is running on borrowed time. Despite its initial promise to represent a broad spectrum of the population, it has failed to address the underlying issues facing South Africa. Economic inequality is at an all-time high, unemployment continues to soar, and political disillusionment has reached a boiling point. The various factions within the GNU have continually compromised their positions to avoid conflict, but in doing so, they have ensured that no meaningful progress is made.

More importantly, the growing frustration among South Africa’s youth — particularly vulnerable to the unemployment crisis — has created a volatile political climate. With the country at a tipping point, the compromises that the GNU has made may ultimately lead to its collapse, leaving South Africa to confront its challenges without the political unity it needs to move forward.

A choice between chaos and change

If the GNU persists in its current form into 2025, South Africa risks a future defined by political instability and economic decline. The compromises that have sustained the coalition are unsustainable in the face of the nation’s real needs. The political status quo is no longer viable. South Africa cannot afford to wait any longer for a government that is more concerned with preserving its own power than with delivering tangible results for its people.

The choice facing South Africa in 2025 is stark: continue with a fractured and ineffective government that prioritizes political deals over real solutions, or demand a new direction — one that seeks unity in purpose, not just in name. South Africa will spiral into chaos without bold leadership and a commitment to reform. The time for compromises has passed. South Africa needs a government that is prepared to make the hard decisions, one that puts the needs of its citizens before the demands of political survival. If that doesn't happen soon, 2025 may very well mark the beginning of the end for the dream of a united, democratic South Africa.

Mayalo is an independent writer, analyst, and commentator

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.