In democratic countries, citizens vote to choose who represents them. But what happens after the votes are counted? How do a collection of winning politicians actually become a government that can pass laws and run the country? This process can be simple or very complex. Today, we'll explore two paths to forming a government, focusing on a recent, real-world example of political cooperation.
Warm-Up
Think, Pair, Square
Let's begin with a "Think, Pair, Square" activity. First, take one minute to think about the question yourself. Next, discuss your ideas with a partner for two minutes. Finally, your pair will join another pair to form a group of four and share your best ideas.
"What’s one rule you’d change at your school or in your city—and why?"
Think about the reasons for your choice. Is the current rule unfair, inefficient, or outdated? What would be the positive results of your proposed change?
From Vote to Government
After an election, the elected officials must form a government. Sometimes, one party wins more than 50% of the votes, giving them a clear mandate to govern. This is called a majority government. However, what happens when no single party wins a majority? This is what happened in South Africa's 2024 general election.
Watch the video explainer about the election results and the formation of a new government. As you listen, pay attention to the key steps and the challenges the political parties faced.
South Africa's 2024 Election
An explanation of how a "Government of National Unity" was formed after no single party won a majority.
Video Transcript
00:00 So the last couple of weeks have been a political whirlwind. Now you're probably wondering what's next. This after no political party has won an outright majority
00:15 in the national elections and now the ANC seeks to form a government of national unity. I'm Byron Haupt and together with my DStv colleagues Masake Kane and Lorenzo Arries, we will unpack everything you need to know about votes,
00:30 seats, and what a government of national unity means for South Africa. It's actually a lot simpler than you think. So let's start at the beginning. What exactly is a government of national unity? So basically a government of
00:45 national unity is a broad coalition government consisting of all political parties within the national legislature. Usually, this government structure is formed during a time of war or national emergency, but it's the first time since 1994 that the ANC has failed to win an
01:00 outright majority. Now with the ANC's proposal for a government of national unity, many political parties will have representation. This means cabinet ministers will be selected from various parties. In these elections, 18 parties won
01:15 at least one seat in the National Assembly. These political parties now have to come together, but only time will tell who the president will choose to form a new cabinet. And remember, stay informed and ahead with all your
01:30 post-election updates on DStv.
How a Government Forms
Based on the video, let's map out the process. In a system where no single party wins a majority, forming a government requires negotiation and compromise.
- Election Day: Citizens cast their votes for different political parties.
- Results Announced: No single party wins over 50% of the seats in parliament. The African National Congress (ANC) won the most votes but lost its majority for the first time in 30 years.
- Negotiations Begin: Parties must talk to each other to see if they can work together. The goal is to form a group that, combined, has a majority of seats.
- A Coalition is Formed: Several parties, including the ANC and its long-time rival, the Democratic Alliance (DA), agree to cooperate in a "Government of National Unity." A coalition is a partnership between two or more political parties.
- President Elected: The newly formed parliament, with its new coalition majority, votes to re-elect Cyril Ramaphosa as president.
- Government Begins Work: The president appoints a cabinet, and the government can start its work, such as creating and passing new laws.
Vocabulary
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