A New Coalition Government Will Set South Africa Back
For many observers, trying to keep South Africa's coalition government intact as it staggered from one crisis to another over the past year has seemed like a Sisyphean task. Yet, because it seemed like such a worthy pursuit, citizens and the business sector have supported it.
Now, two weeks after its first anniversary, the government has hit another hurdle — and this time the main players have drifted so far apart it may mean the end of the union as soon as this weekend. Threats of a walkout have been made. Ultimatums that must be met by Saturday afternoon have been issued. A new coalition government, more fragile and unstable than the current one, will have to be cobbled together.
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