South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) party has declared that it will not entertain any demands from potential coalition partners for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down, according to a top official on Sunday. This statement comes as the ANC seeks to present a united front following an election result that ended its 30-year majority.
As South Africa embarks on a series of complex negotiations to form a national coalition government for the first time, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula affirmed that Ramaphosa would remain as the party leader. He stated that any demands for Ramaphosa’s resignation as a condition for coalition talks were “a no-go area.”
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“President Ramaphosa is the president of the ANC,” Mbalula emphasized in the ANC leadership’s first public comments since the landmark election results. “If you come to us with the demand that Ramaphosa must step down as a president, that is not going to happen.”
Mbalula also indicated that the ANC was open to discussions with all political parties to form a government. The ANC secured just over 40% of the votes, falling short of the majority it has held throughout South Africa’s young democracy. Despite this, the ANC remains the largest party by a significant margin and will need to collaborate with other parties to form a government and reelect Ramaphosa for a second and final term. In South Africa, the president is elected by Parliament following national elections.
“The results sent a clear message to the ANC,” Mbalula acknowledged. “We wish to assure the people of South Africa that we have heard them.” He added that the ANC is committed to forming a stable government that reflects the will of the people.
The new MK Party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, which achieved a surprising 14% in the election, making it the third largest party in Parliament, has demanded that Ramaphosa step down as leader of the ANC and the country to consider entering coalition talks with the ANC.
However, the ANC has multiple potential coalition partners among South Africa’s other parties, including the main opposition Democratic Alliance, which won 21% of the votes.
