South Africa’s Ramaphosa urges rivals to find common ground after ANC election bruising
- South Africa’s ANC courts rivals after an election humiliation saw it win 159 of 400 seats in parliament
- President Cyril Ramaphosa urged South African party leaders to work together, ‘put South Africa first’
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday called for South Africa’s political parties to overcome their differences and find “common ground” to form the first national coalition government in its young democracy.
His comments came in a speech straight after final election results were announced confirming that no party won a majority in last week’s vote. Unprecedented coalition talks were set to start to find a way forward for Africa’s most industrialised economy.
Ramaphosa’s African National Congress party had already lost its 30-year majority after more than 99 per cent of votes were counted by Saturday and showed it couldn’t surpass 50 per cent. The ANC received 40 per cent of the votes in last week’s election in the final count, the largest share.
Without a majority it will need to agree on a coalition with another party or parties for the first time to co-govern and re-elect Ramaphosa for a second term. South Africa’s national elections decide how many seats each party gets in Parliament and lawmakers elect the president later.
“Our people have spoken,” Ramaphosa said. “Whether we like it or not, they have spoken. We have heard the voices of our people and we must respect their choices and their wishes. … The people of South Africa expect their leaders to work together to meet their needs. This is a time for all of us to put South Africa first.”
