The Government of National Unity's Impact on Nation Building in Post-2024 South Africa

The study assesses developing trends emerging as a consequence of GNU policies, focusing on the escalating racial tensions that arise as unintended consequences within the broader nation-building agenda. As a result of citizens’ outcry over a faltering economy, rising unemployment, poor service delivery, and corruption, the ANC received 40% of the national vote. As a result, to stay in power, forming a government of national unity (GNU) became the party’s focal point. A national unity government is a type of broad, multiparty coalition. It may include all the parties represented in parliament, or at least the major parties, giving them a share in governing the country. Governments of unity can manifest in various forms. Governments of unity can take many different shapes. The nation’s interim constitution governed South Africa’s first prior government of national unity, which took place after the nation’s first multiracial elections in 1994 and saw Nelson Mandela win the presidency. Therefore, this paper examines the configuration of the GNU, possible challenges and prospects of success. It interrogates the unity of the GNU in relation to recently enacted policies such as the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, and the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024. These have become very controversial with the GNU, hence this paper will make references to them in its arguments. The study is grounded in qualitative methodology. It uses, systematic literature review utilising online sources, which allows for a comprehensive and structured analysis of existing research while emphasising thematic patterns and critical interpretations