The unseemly spat between the African National Congress (ANC) President Ramaphosa and the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) comes as no surprise.
In part, this has to do with the fact that they represent different agendas that respond to opposing interests. The DA, once dubbed a party of white bosses and black stooges is seen as fundamentally opposed to the aspirations of the majority who remain landless in the country of their forebears.
For the DA, a Government of National Unity (GNU) made up of black parties would be anathema. In its arrogance, the DA has described such a possibility as a Doomsday eventuality.
This historic fact has not deterred the ANC of Ramaphosa, who has made a Faustian deal with the Democratic Alliance. In doing so, it has chosen to trade its soul and the mission of advancing the total emancipation of African people from socio-economic bondage.
Such pacts are unsustainable. The exchange of letters between the ANC and DA representatives reveals as much. For his part, Ramaphosa was quick to remind the leader of the DA John Steenhuisen that the ANC found the letter from the DAs Federal Chairperson to be offensive, condescending, and inconsistent with the Constitution.
