South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) insists the party will not yield to any proposal from possible coalition partners that President Cyril Ramaphosa step down, a top official said on Sunday, as the party looks to establish a united front after a seismic election that threw it into uncharted territory.
ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula said Ramaphosa will remain as party leader and president and that any demand from prospective partners’ that he resign for talks to progress was “a no-go area.”
“If you come to us with the demand that Ramaphosa must step down as a president, that is not going to happen.” He stressed.
The party received just over 40% of the votes, a significant step down from its majority for three decades. However, while it remains the country’s biggest party, it has to enter talks with other parties to form a government and re-elect Ramaphosa for a second and final term.
South Africa’s president is elected by Parliament after national elections.
“The results sent a clear message to the ANC, and we wish to assure the South African people that we have heard them” Mbalula said.
He said the ANC was committed to forming a government that reflects the will of the people and is stable.
The new MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma, which surprisingly won 14% of the votes and throws it up as the third biggest in parliament, has insisted Ramaphosa must step down as leader of the ANC and the country for it to enter any negotiations.
The ANC has several negotiating options among South Africa’s other parties, including one with the main opposition Democratic Alliance, which won 21% of votes but it is believed party hardliners will be reluctant to enter any deal with them.