5 political parties to participate in South Africa's national unity government: ANC

African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula briefs the media after a meeting of the ANC's National Executive Committee in Cape Town, South Africa, on June 13, 2024. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

The African National Congress (ANC) said Monday that a total of five political parties have officially signed a statement of intent to participate in the government of national unity (GNU).

JOHANNESBURG, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The African National Congress (ANC) said Monday that a total of five political parties have officially signed a statement of intent to participate in the government of national unity (GNU).

The five parties are the ANC, the Democratic Alliance, the Inkatha Freedom Party, GOOD, and the Patriotic Alliance, the ANC said in a statement.

The collective represents 273 seats, or 68 percent of the seats in South Africa's National Assembly, according to the statement.

Members of the African National Congress (ANC) react after a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Boksburg of Johannesburg, South Africa, June 6, 2024. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

"The GNU's priorities and minimum program are fully aligned with the ANC's long-standing commitments and policies. We are dedicated to achieving rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, job creation, land reform, industrialization, and infrastructure development. Our objective is to create a just society that addresses poverty, spatial inequalities, food security, and the high cost of living while protecting workers' rights and delivering quality basic services," said the ANC.

The ANC said the GNU will ensure representation in government and legislatures by all participating parties, making decisions by consensus, with mechanisms for conflict resolution where necessary.

In the general elections on May 29, the ANC secured 159 out of the 400 seats in the National Assembly, for the first time falling below the 50 percent needed to maintain its 30-year-old outright majority in the lower house of parliament.

Cyril Ramaphosa reacts after being reelected as the nation's president during the first sitting of the National Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa, on June 14, 2024. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)

Cyril Ramaphosa, leader of the ANC, was reelected by the National Assembly Friday as the country's president for the next five years. ■