STORY: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced his new coalition cabinet including a job for the leader of what was the largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance.

"The minister of agriculture is John Steenhuisen."

:: May 29, 2024

Ramaphosa's African National Congress was forced to join with rival parties to stay in power, after losing its majority for the first time in three decades, in a May 29 election.

And Sunday's (June 30) announcement followed weeks of protracted, and at times acrimonious, negotiations.

Political analyst and former South Africa diplomat Melanie Verwoerd said what had emerged was a "major shake-up" with "very few of the old faces still in there".

"John Steenhuisen in agriculture. You know, I don't know what he knows about agriculture apart from that you buy chickens in supermarkets. But I do... I mean, I do understand why the DA fought for that. I think it's because they want to get some of the Freedom Front voters, that's one of the few growth points still for the DA".

Freedom Front is a smaller party with its base in white, Afrikaans-speaking voters.

The markets, which had welcomed inclusion of the business-friendly DA in South Africa's coalition government, responded favorably to the new cabinet.

South African assets rose sharply on Monday (June 1).

Some investors, however, said the gains were likely short-lived as it would take time for the new government's agenda and performance to become clear.

The reaction on the streets of Johannesburg was more mixed.

While some welcomed the "diverse" and "inclusive" make-up of the executive, others, like Gomolemo Itumeleng, questioned the mix of "different people with different philosophies".

"I'm not really confident about it, but then they say the people of South Africa have spoken. Is that what they said they wanted? That's my question. I don't really support it fully, but what can we do? Because at this point I feel like, we've spoken but we're not being listened to."

Alongside the DA, Ramaphosa has made space for five other coalition parties in his cabinet.

But now that the wrangling over portfolios is over, the government faces the more daunting task of governing.

That's in the face of a struggling economy, crumbling roads and power stations, and high unemployment.

Whether the coalition of former enemies can improve on the ANC's record may depend, analysts have said, on the extent to which they can set aside their ideological differences.