JOHANNESBURG: A small Muslim political party in South Africa, Al Jama-ah, is gaining support due to the assault on Gaza. The party sees itself as a potential coalition partner for the ‘African National Congress’ (ANC) after next week’s voting, its leader stated on Wednesday.

Solidarity with the Palestinians is a ‘popular position’ in South Africa, where many people liken their treatment by Israel to the plight of its own Black majority during the period of apartheid. South Africa has taken Israel to the World Court on accusations of ‘genocide’.

Polls suggest that the ANC, which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid in the year 1994, may ‘lose its parliamentary majority’ for the first time in the election scheduled for the 29 of May. This would ‘force’ the ANC into a coalition, with one or more parties to stay in power.

“The ANC can count on us” Ganief Hendricks, Al Jama-ah’s leader and sole member of parliament, told reporters. South Africans are due to elect a 400-member parliament, which will then elect the country’s president by a majority vote.

If the ANC gets close to 50pc of votes, which translates into 50pc of parliamentary seats, analysts say it could likely enlist a few ‘small opposition parties’ to keep its leader (Cyril Ramaphosa) in power.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2024