Top officials in South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) have initiated discussions with representatives from five other parties about forming a coalition or agreement to govern, the ANC announced on Wednesday. However, no decision has been reached yet.
The ANC, which has ruled for 30 years, lost its majority in last week’s election but remains the largest party. Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri reported “exploratory” talks with the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and three smaller parties. The ANC has also reached out to the new MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma but has not received a positive response.
Zuma, a former ANC leader, has become a staunch critic of current President Cyril Ramaphosa. The ANC has framed its discussions with other parties as an effort to form a government of “national unity,” with a formal coalition being just one option. The ANC could also form a minority government or consider moving to the opposition benches if it benefits the country.
The ANC is open to engaging with any of the more than 50 parties that contested the election to find a solution. Parliament must convene by June 16 to elect a president, with Ramaphosa seeking a second term, necessitating an agreement of some kind.
“We have been meeting with all parties that are keen to contribute ideas on how we can collectively move our country forward to form a government that ensures national unity and stability,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
In its worst-ever electoral performance, the ANC secured only 159 of the 400 parliamentary seats. It is followed by the Democratic Alliance with 87 seats, the MK Party with 58 seats, the Economic Freedom Fighters with 39 seats, and the Inkatha Freedom Party with 17 seats.
Analysts warn that forming a coalition with the main opposition parties could alienate some of the ANC’s traditional base. Both the EFF and the MK Party were founded by leaders who broke away from the ANC, the latter performing well in its first election, securing 14% of the national vote and attracting many former ANC voters.
A potential coalition with the DA could face resistance from ANC members and alliance partners, including the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party. Cosatu spokesperson Matthew Parks emphasized that any coalition must be led by the ANC and Ramaphosa, be progressive, support working-class communities, defend workers’ rights, grow the economy, create jobs, tackle crime and corruption, invest in public services, and unite the nation.
Tensions between the ANC and the MK Party have already surfaced. An MK Party spokesperson stated they would “not negotiate with the ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa.” Senior ANC member and former Defense Minister Siphiwe Nyanda has also warned against a coalition with Zuma’s MK Party, accusing Zuma of damaging the ANC and suggesting that bringing him back would further harm the party.
“Now that Zuma has inflicted so much damage on the ANC from the outside, there is a rush to bring him back by his accomplices who are still embedded in the leadership of the ANC, so that he can finish his job of destroying the once proud liberation movement of the oppressed people of South Africa,” Nyanda said in a statement.
