Senior officials within South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) have convened with representatives from five other parties to explore the possibility of forming a coalition, yet no definitive decision has been reached.
Holding the largest share of seats, the African National Congress experienced a setback in the recent parliamentary elections, losing its majority status after three decades. None of the competing parties managed to surpass or supplant its position.
Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, the spokesperson for the ANC, disclosed that discussions described as “exploratory” have taken place with the primary opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), as well as the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), along with three other minor parties.
Bhengu-Motsiri further noted the ANC’s attempts to engage with the new uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, albeit without success.
The party has expressed its willingness to engage with any of the more than 50 parties that partook in the election to explore potential resolutions.
At present, parliamentary proceedings must convene to elect a president by June 16. For Cyril Ramaphosa, who is vying for a second term, an agreement must be forged to facilitate his return to office.
“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,” said Bhengu-Motsiri.
The potential for the ANC to forge a coalition with the DA is anticipated to encounter opposition from certain factions within the party, as well as from alliance partners such as the Congress of South African Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party.
It’s worth noting that the spokesperson for the MK conveyed to the Associated Press that the party would “not engage in negotiations with Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC”.
Similarly, Siphiwe Nyanda, a prominent ANC figure and former Defence Minister, has publicly cautioned the ANC against aligning with Jacob Zuma’s MK 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.