SOUTH AFRICA: DA Cool On Nat Unity Gov't w/EFF & MK; SACP Doesn't Want DA

The centrist liberal Democratic Alliance (DA) has claimed that 'whether to participate in a gov't of national unity will depend on what the ANC meas by that', adding that 'if the idea is to include the MK, EFF, and PA in the executive, the current decision is that we will not join these parties in a gov't.' The tacit proposal of a national unity gov't by the ANC earlier today (see 'SOUTH AFRICA: ANC-'Looking @ Nat Unity Gov't; Parties Involved Depend On Talks', 1202BST) is unlikely to come to fruition given the major political, economic, and cultural differences between the DA and the extreme-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). 

• Separately, the South Africa Communist Party (SACP) has said that it is opposed to any ANC coalition with the DA, adding that it would support an ANC minority gov't without the DA. Also says that it would prefer a gov't formation without former President Jacob Zuma's MK. The SACP does not hold any seats in the National Assembly, but is part of the gov't due to its role in the 'Tripartite Alliance' between the ANC, SACP and Congress of South African Trade Unions. 
• The increasingly-stark choice for the ANC is coming down to a coalition with the DA (and likely the IFP) that would calm markets but risk a backlash from the left of the ANC, or a gov't with the EFF and/or MK that would risk a run on South African assets and potentially see Ramaphosa ousted as president.