Government of National Unity
ANC reflects on decline and renewal at national council
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The African National Congress began its fifth National General Council in Boksburg on December 8, 2025, addressing the party's electoral decline, the Government of National Unity, and internal challenges. Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula highlighted the ANC's long-standing weakening since 2016, while President Cyril Ramaphosa urged discipline and humility amid a staff picket over delayed salaries. The gathering aims to prepare for the 2026 local elections without discussing leadership succession.
On December 15, 2025, ODM deputy leader Simba Arati led a large party meeting in Eldoret, urging President William Ruto to abandon UDA and return to ODM to bolster the Government of National Unity. He pledged continued cooperation with the government, emphasizing ODM's nationwide roots.
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Veteran journalist Mandy Wiener's new book, The Deal: Inside the Talks that Shaped South Africa’s Future, uncovers the intense negotiations that formed the Government of National Unity in 2024. Drawing on insider accounts, it highlights the rapid deal-making amid political uncertainty. The GNU emerged during a brief pause in the swearing-in ceremony, as described by key figures.