The results of the 29 May 2024 elections caused a seismic shift in South Africa’s
political landscape. For the first time in three decades of democracy, the ruling
ANC did not emerge with a majority.

With a constitutional deadline of just fourteen days to elect a president, the
nation held its breath. Would the ANC forge a so-called doomsday coalition with
the EFF and Patriotic Alliance, or a centrist partnership with its nemesis, the DA?
What role would smaller parties play, and how would Jacob Zuma’s disruptive
MK party impact on the negotiations?

The Deal takes you behind the scenes of the negotiations that redefined a
nation, providing exclusive interviews with party leaders, unique insights and
stories, thoughtful analysis and vital context. From the exclusive Inanda Club to
clandestine hotel basements and affluent private houses on Johannesburg’s
Westcliff Ridge, negotiating teams met under immense pressure. Amidst
volatile markets, a skittish currency and intense social media scrutiny, every
decision was critical.

Witness the nail-biting moments as talks through bilaterals and back channels
teetered on the brink of collapse, and discover the personality clashes,
factionalism and deft political manoeuvring that ultimately led to the
establishment of the Government of National Unity. The Deal is a compelling
record of history.