South Africa’s May 29 general election saw the ruling African National Congress (ANC) lose its majority for the first time, plunging the country into coalition talks that will change the political dynamics of the past 30 years. This could bring more consensus, stability and better governance — and on Jun. 5 the ANC announced it hopes to form a multiparty unity government — but it also carries the risk of division and disruption. On the energy front, the next government will play a decisive role in what happens to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s plans to increase oil production, deregulate the power sector and diversify away from coal — and particularly its plans to procure multiple new large power reactors.
