Russian tensions expose faultlines in South Africa’s unity government

South Africa’s grand coalition government, which has surprised sceptics by holding together, is battling to contain a foreign policy stand-off between the two largest parties.

In the past week, clashes over the three most contentious foreign policy issues — Russia, China and Israel — have exposed deep ideological rifts between the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance and deepened fears that the coalition of 10 parties may not survive a full five-year term.