New government partners poised for Cabinet battle

South African political parties that last week agreed to form a governing alliance are limbering up for a tussle over cabinet positions, as President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to be sworn in for a new term.

Senior leaders of Ramaphosa’s African National Congress met on Monday to prepare for formal talks on how key posts will be shared in the next administration. While five parties have signed up for the so-called government of national unity, the bulk of the negotiations on the portfolios will be between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance, which emerged as the second-largest party in last month’s elections.