South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for closer collaboration among the parties in his government of national unity (GNU) as the coalition navigates persistent internal challenges.

Speaking after a two-day summit with leaders of the nine other parties, Ramaphosa and his counterparts pledged to accelerate economic reforms while improving the functioning of the administration, the presidency said Monday. Key policy priorities highlighted at the meeting include intensifying efforts against crime and developing a “comprehensive response” to illegal immigration.

The GNU was formed in June 2024 after the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since apartheid, forcing Ramaphosa to build a coalition with the Democratic Alliance and eight other parties. While investors welcomed the government’s focus on economic growth, the coalition has repeatedly struggled to maintain cohesion.

Tensions have emerged over contentious legislation, the Treasury’s abandoned proposal to raise value-added tax, and the president’s dismissal of a DA deputy trade minister for traveling abroad without authorisation. The 2025 budget process also exposed divisions within the coalition, highlighting the need for tighter coordination.

“The leaders recognised difficulties at times in the functioning of the GNU, most notably around the 2025 budget process,” the presidency said. “However, it has drawn important lessons from these experiences and will ensure more effective consultation in developing fiscal priorities and frameworks. All parties reaffirmed their full commitment to the GNU.”