BUSINESS ELITE BLOCKS EFF PATH TO POWER?

South Africa faces a coalition conundrum. President Ramaphosa needs to find partners to form a workable government after his African National Congress party failed to get an outright win at the recent elections.

Teaming up with the Economic Freedom Fighters could solve the puzzle, but its nationalisation and Black empowerment policies have provoked an angry response from the country’s business elite. They prefer the ANC forms a partnership with the white-led ‘business friendly’ Democratic Alliance. It’s the largest opposition party but does have major foreign policy differences with the ANC especially on the issue of relations with Israel. What’s more, trade unions are against DA proposals to scrap the minimum wage, a move that would hit mostly Black low-income earners.

It’s a political headache for Ramaphosa. The question is, which way will he jump? Will he be pushed by big-money interests?