JOHANNESBURG — The political landscape of South Africa’s unity government is experiencing significant tension due to disagreements between its leading parties, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA). The source of conflict stems from a recently proposed initiative to allow visa-free entry for Ukrainians holding diplomatic, official, and service passports.
This new policy was introduced by Leon Schreiber, the DA’s home affairs minister; however, it was quickly rebuffed by representatives from the ANC, including President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula made it clear on Tuesday that President Ramaphosa would not approve the visa agreement, despite Schreiber’s earlier announcement.
The discord within the unity government was further displayed last week when DA leader John Steenhuisen publicly disagreed with remarks made by President Ramaphosa during a BRICS summit in Russia. At the meeting, Ramaphosa referred to Russia as a valuable ally of South Africa, a statement that Steenhuisen vehemently disputed in a follow-up statement.
“The Democratic Alliance distances itself from recent comments made by President Ramaphosa during bilateral engagements with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he stated that ‘Russia is a valuable ally and friend,’” Steenhuisen asserted. “The DA, as a significant partner in the Government of National Unity, unequivocally rejects this characterization.” He emphasized that the DA does not recognize Russia or Vladimir Putin as allies of South Africa.
In response, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, emphasized that the president is in charge of the nation’s foreign policy and would pursue it independently, free from external pressures. He stressed that South Africa has maintained its long-standing relations with Russia while also fostering diplomatic ties with Ukraine, advocating for a comprehensive peace dialogue that engages both nations.
The ongoing disagreements signal deeper divisions between the two principal parties in South Africa’s government of national unity, which was established after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in recent elections, marking its lowest share of votes in history. The ANC, having held power since the nation’s first democratic elections in 1994, partnered with the then-opposition DA and several smaller parties to form this unity government.
However, tensions have been evident since Ramaphosa brought in ministers from what was once the opposition. While South Africa officially maintains a neutral position regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, calling for open dialogue, the government continues to nurture diplomatic relations with both nations. South Africa is also part of the BRICS group, which includes Russia and China, and recently participated in a summit in the Russian city of Kazan.
On the other hand, the Democratic Alliance has vocally criticized Russia and expressed strong support for Ukraine, with Steenhuisen having visited the country in 2022. Earlier, in September, the two parties also clashed over an education bill that grants the government the authority to set language and admission policies in schools, leading to the Democratic Alliance’s education minister boycotting the signing ceremony of the legislation by Ramaphosa.