As New Government Takes Shape, Undercurrent of Violence Simmers in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG—South Africa’s unity government was confirmed on June 14 when the country’s second-largest political party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), signed an agreement with the African National Congress (ANC). In terms of the deal, the DA’s 87 members of parliament, plus others from a few smaller parties, joined the 159 ANC MPs to support a second term as president for ANC leader, Cyril Ramaphosa. The ANC, in power since the end of apartheid in 1994, was forced to lobby support from other parties, notably the DA, to form a coalition government after it recently slumped to its worst-ever election result. It won only 40 percent of the vote following a national election on May 29....