The outcome of the May 29 general election did not produce an outright winner according to the official results. This meant that some form of joint government had to be formed.
After first considering a coalition government, the ANC eventually settled for a Government of National Unity (GNU).
This was extended to Governments of Provincial Unity (GPUs) in those provinces where the ANC did not meet the 50 plus one threshold such as in KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape.
This form of government has meant different things to different political parties. Those parties which opted not to join the GNU for one reason or the other welcomed the opportunity to occupy opposition benches so that they could hold the executive accountable.
Of the parties that joined the GNU, smaller parties such as the Patriotic Alliance, PAC, and others with no more than three seats saw their leaders being elevated to positions of ministers or deputy ministers. Either way, they benefited because this would not have been possible without the GNU.
