Abstract:
Questions whether the Government of National Unity had a long-term influence on South African party politics, or whether it only served as a transitional measure. The following aspects have been researched: the process of change in South Africa, coalition theories, the provisions of the 1993 Constitution with regard to the GNU, and the analysis of two examples. It is clear that the GNU did have a long-term effect, as represented in the coalition governments in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. However, on national level the GNU functioned for only three years instead of five, because the ANC's ideological striving for control over the government was too strong.