The Government of National Unity has been many things, but few would describe it as neat. It has been characterised by disagreements, competing priorities, public criticism and ongoing negotiation. Supporters and critics alike have pointed to moments of tension and uncertainty. Yet despite the predictions of imminent collapse that accompanied its formation, it has endured.

Perhaps that is because many South Africans are applying an outdated measure of success to a new political reality.

In a country long accustomed to one-party dominance, coalition politics can feel frustrating. Decisions take longer. Consensus is harder to reach. Compromise can look like weakness. But in many democracies around the world, compromise is not a sign of failure; it is the mechanism through which government functions.

The more interesting question may no longer be whether political parties agree with one another. They clearly do not. The question is whether they can continue to work together despite those differences.

South Africa faces enormous challenges, from economic growth and job creation to service delivery and public trust. None of these problems will be solved by political theatre alone. They require institutions that can function even when leaders disagree.

The real political story of 2026 may therefore not be about which party defeats another. It may be about whether South Africa is gradually learning a new democratic skill: the ability to govern through negotiation rather than dominance.

If that lesson takes root, it could prove more significant than any election result. The success of South African politics may ultimately lie not in winning arguments, but in learning how to share responsibility for the future.