South Africa's new governing alliance emerges

CAPE TOWN — South Africa's African National Congress, or ANC, has agreed to form a government of national unity for South Africa with three other parties including its largest rival, the pro-business Democratic Alliance, or DA, public broadcaster SABC reported on Friday.

The ANC, which has been in power since the 1994 elections that marked the end of apartheid, lost its majority for the first time in a May 29 vote and two weeks of intensive behind-the-scenes talks with other parties came down to the wire.

The SABC report came as the newly elected parliament was convening for the first time and lawmakers were in the process of being sworn in. The chamber was expected to elect its speaker, deputy speaker and the country's president.