City Press: Wits professor sees exciting opportunities in South Africa’s new GNU
An associate professor at the School of Governance at the University of Witwatersrand, William Gumede, believes the government of national unity (GNU) offers an “exciting opportunity”, likening the situation to historical precedents where nations in crisis or postconflict scenarios had formed coalition governments to pool resources, ideas and energy.
Gumede was addressing the small and medium sized enterprises (SME) indaba cohosted by Business Partners Ltd and Small Business Institute (SBI) on Wednesday at the Bryanston Country Club.
While delivering his comprehensive analysis of South Africa’s political and economic landscape under the newly formed GNU, Gumede’s presentation shed light on the potential consequences of this coalition government on the nation’s governance and economic stability, offering valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
READ: William Gumede | Loss of power is the ultimate motivator for governing parties to fulfill promises
He highlighted that South Africa’s current political landscape, which is characterised by a coalition of various parties, reflected similar historical moments like that of the 1994 GNU and held the potential for innovative governance solutions.
Gumede said:
The GNU has brought new energy into governance, new ideas, and new ways of doing things.
He said the inclusion of non-ANC partners in the coalition had the potential to drive performance and accountability in government operations, which have often been criticised for inefficiency and corruption.
The non-ANC partners in the current administration include the DA, IFP and Patriotic Alliance (PA) among parties.
One of the central themes of Gumede’s address was the need to address the country’s severe economic challenges, particularly unemployment, which he described as a “crisis”.
According to StatsSA, the unemployment rate in the country is currently at 32.9%, and Gumede asserted that this necessitated the urgent implementation of effective economic policies.
Gumede noted that the coalition government’s success would hinge on its ability to stimulate job creation and economic growth, particularly through support for SMEs.
READ: Birth of the Multi-Party Charter: Here is what they have agreed on thus far
Reflecting on the dynamics within the GNU, Gumede acknowledged the complexities and potential pitfalls of coalition governance.
He mentioned that the coalition’s success relied on the ability of diverse political entities to collaborate effectively, adding that the GNU might have been designed to ensure stability and coherence in governance, but the real test would be in the execution of policies and the delivery of public services.
However, Gumede expressed optimism that the competitive pressure within the coalition might drive performance improvements.
“The competition from the non-ANC partners may push the ANC to deliver better governance and public services,” he said.
This internal competition, combined with the fresh perspectives brought in by the coalition partners, could lead to more responsive and accountable governance, he said.
by City Press – https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/wits-professor-sees-exciting-opportunities-in-south-africas-new-gnu-20240724
Yamkeleka Manjeya
