Conflict in South Africa’s coalition government is ‘not catastrophic,’ says major party leader

Associated Press

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The leader of South Africa’s second biggest party says there will be conflict in the new coalition government, and it should not be viewed as “catastrophic.” John Steenhuisen’s Democratic Alliance party joined the long-ruling African National Congress in a coalition against all expectations after May’s national election. The two were previously staunch political foes. Steenhuisen said in a speech Thursday that their recent disagreements over policy are not a threat to the coalition, even if he called it “a marriage of inconvenience.” The ANC and DA are two of 10 parties that came together to form the unity government after the ANC lost its majority for the first time.