Michael Andisile Mayalo

South Africa’s political journey has been shaped by decades of struggle, with the ANC at the forefront of the fight against apartheid. The National Democratic Revolution (NDR) has long been a core principle of the ANC, promising not only political liberation but also economic justice for the previously marginalised majority.

The NDR’s vision for a just and equal society, with an emphasis on wealth redistribution and land reform, remains a pivotal ideal. However, the formation of the GNU after the 2024 national general elections has sparked significant debate over the extent to which the NDR can still be realised. In the context of this new coalition government, it’s crucial to examine whether this compromise reflects the triumph of stability over revolutionary transformation or the beginning of a necessary recalibration.

The Emergence of the GNU

Following the results of the elections, South Africa found itself in a political and economic impasse. The ANC, which had dominated the political landscape since 1994, failed to secure an outright majority, signalling a shift in the political equilibrium. As a result, the ANC entered into negotiations with various political parties, leading to the formation of the GNU. This government compromises several political forces, each with its policies and priorities, aiming to address South Africa’s most pressing challenges, such as unemployment, poverty, and corruption.

The GNU’s primary goal is stabilising the country and preventing political fragmentation, but it also carries significant risks. The ANC, traditionally the leader of the liberation movement, found itself navigating a delicate balance between radical transformation and the need to collaborate with more centrist and even conservative factions. The compromise reached to form this coalition government raises questions about whether the NDR’s transformative goals will continue to drive policy or whether pragmatic governance will take precedence.

National Democratic Revolution: A dream in peril?

The NDR, as conceived by the ANC, sought to address the economic apartheid legacies of redistributing wealth, empowering the black majority, and transforming the economic structure to benefit the marginalized. This would include policies like land reform, the nationalisation of key industries, and wealth redistribution. However, over the years, particularly with adopting neoliberal economic policies, the NDR’s revolutionary agenda has been diluted in favour of more market-driven solutions.

With the formation of the GNU, the ANC’s ability to pursue its radical transformation agenda has been further constrained. Economic policies have shifted towards maintaining fiscal stability, fostering foreign investment, and preserving South Africa’s position in the global economy. The need to appeal to business elites, international stakeholders, and middle-class voters has led to the watering down of policies that once promised the redistribution of resources. The core elements of the NDR, particularly land reform and the decolonization of the economy, have been sidelined in favour of a market-oriented approach that aligns more closely with the priorities of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and other centrist parties within the GNU.

The ANC’s reliance on the GNU, where power is shared with parties that are more inclined to protect private property and market-driven growth, poses a fundamental challenge to the realisation of the NDR’s more radical objectives. The ANC’s vision of economic justice and empowerment for the majority is increasingly compromised by its coalition partners' policies, which prioritise stability and growth within the existing capitalist framework.

The limits of unity: national unity or political concession?

The GNU was essential in preventing political fragmentation and ensuring that South Africa’s democracy remained stable after the elections. However, the very nature of coalition governance brings with it the inevitable compromises. While unity is crucial for the country’s democratic continuity, it often comes at the cost of revolutionary change. In a coalition government, every policy is subject to negotiation and radical proposals—such as wealth redistribution, nationalization, and land expropriation, without compensation—face significant pushback from partners who prefer less disruptive reforms.

This compromise is indicative of a broader problem: the ANC’s revolutionary ideals have been significantly diluted since the end of apartheid. Economic policies that favour international capital have made it more difficult to challenge entrenched economic power. The land question, for example, remains unresolved, and while there have been efforts to address historical injustices, meaningful reform remains stalled. The NDR’s promise of transforming the economic landscape to ensure equality is being increasingly overshadowed by the political necessity of keeping the coalition government intact.

Looking Ahead: the future of the NDR in South Africa

As the GNU takes shape, the critical question remains whether South Africa can still deliver on the promises of the National Democratic Revolution. Will the ANC find a way to renew its commitment to radical economic transformation, or will it continue to embrace a centrist approach that accommodates the interests of the political and economic elite? The answer lies in the balance the ANC strikes between its revolutionary roots and the demands of coalition politics. The GNU may provide short-term stability, but unless the country’s leadership is willing to push for the deep, structural changes envisaged by the NDR, South Africa’s economic inequality and social injustices will remain entrenched The NDR’s vision of a more equal society is not impossible to achieve, but it will require a greater commitment to addressing the economic foundations of inequality and a willingness to confront the entrenched interests that continue to benefit from the status quo. The compromises made in the creation of the GNU may represent the price of political unity, but the true test of South Africa’s future will be whether the ideals of the NDR can survive in this new political environment or whether they will be forever compromised by the realities of governance and coalition politics.

* Mayalo is an independent writer, analyst, and commentator

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The GNU and the compromise on the National Democratic Revolution