As the ANC holds its crucial Special NEC meeting in Boksburg on Thursday 6 June, to discuss various options to constitute a government, a political analyst says the ANC is not a united party on the matter of a possible coalition.

Some party members are reportedly in favour of an ANC-DA coalition, and it is deemed investor friendly, but others, including alliance partners Cosatu and the South African Communist Party have strongly rejected any deal where the DA is involved.

ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri told the media on Wednesday that “the best option” at this point looks to be a multi-party government of national unity.

Dr Susan Booysen, the Director of Research at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) says a multi-party government of national unity could be an amazing thing, but she is not convinced that all parties have the right intentions.

Booysen says it would appear that the MK Party – should they form part of negotiations for a government of national unity – has the intention to destroy the ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa.

Similarly, she is of the view that the EFF, who has openly declared they are willing to work with the ANC, will use any coalition agreement to eventually defeat the ANC.

Booysen says while an ANC-DA coalition hangs in the balance, there are other complexities and considerations with forming a minority government of national unity.

One of them is whether the DA would take offence if the EFF is invited to form a government, and vice versa.

Another option is a so-called confidence and supply agreement – this is a scenario where parties or members in parliament agree to support the government in motions of confidence and appropriation votes but are otherwise free to vote in favour of their own policies or on conscience on legislative bills.

Booysen hopes that the country will have more clarity on the way forward in the next few days.

”If parties can look beyond their ideologies, find common ground and make a tangible improvement to people’s lives in the next five years, that would have been a government well appointed.”

According to the constitution, parties have 14 days to form a government following the release of election results.

By this timeline, the first sitting of the National Assembly, and the election of the President, needs to happen on 17 June.

It is expected that Cyril Ramaphosa will remain President of the country.

Meanwhile, the Secretary to Parliament will today receive the list of designated members of the National Assembly from Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

The list was published by the Electoral Commission yesterday.

While a number of ANC Ministers are not returning to Parliament, after the ANC lost 71 seats, there will be a few new faces.

The Patriotic Alliance’s Gayton Mckenzie, the National Coloured Congress’ Fadiel Adams and Rise Mzansi’s Songezo Zibi will all be making their parliamentary debut, while BOSA’s Mmusi Maimane returns.

Despite a legal battle over Jabulani Khumalo topping the list of the MK Party – he is also set to be sworn in as an MP as well as Jacob Zuma’s daughter Duduzile.