Teaming up with smaller parties will give ANC the edge

Former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon says it is possible for the ANC and other parties in the government of national unity (GNU) to gang up against the DA on certain issues.

- Faizel Patel

The ANC, DA, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Pan African Congress (PAC) and Good party have coalesced to form the GNU.

Each of the parties will push for its policies to prevail in the multiparty government, but they will have to compromise if the new set-up is to function.

The once dominant ANC lost 17% of its 2019 vote share and, in the process, 71 seats in parliament in the general election.

This has forced the party to make a deal with other parties to form a coalition government for the first time since the end of apartheid, in 1994.

When asked about the possibility of GNU members "ganging up" on the DA, Leon told Radio 702 "it is possible".