Media Wire Express Correspondent
President Cyril Ramaphosa urged South Africa’s political parties to bridge their gaps and establish a “common ground” to establish the country’s first national coalition government in its young democracy.
His remarks followed the announcement of final election results, revealing that no party secured a majority in the recent vote. Unprecedented coalition discussions are set to commence to chart a path forward for Africa’s most industrialized economy.
The African National Congress, led by Ramaphosa, had already lost its 30-year majority as over 99% of the votes were tallied, failing to reach the 50% threshold. The ANC garnered 40% of the votes in the final count, the highest share in last week’s election.
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With no majority, the ANC will need to form a coalition with one or more parties for the first time to co-govern and potentially reelect Ramaphosa for a second term. South Africa’s national elections determine each party’s parliamentary seats, with lawmakers later selecting the president.
Ramaphosa emphasized, “Our people have spoken. 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.”
The African National Congress, once led by Nelson Mandela and instrumental in ending South Africa’s apartheid regime in 1994, has historically governed with a strong majority. However, in the recent election, the party faced a significant decline in support due to challenges in addressing poverty, high unemployment rates, and deficiencies in delivering essential services to the population of 62 million.
Following the election results, where no party secured a majority, the ANC initiated negotiations with various major parties. More than 50 parties participated in the election, with at least eight garnering significant votes. Notably, the MK Party led by former President Jacob Zuma raised objections of voting irregularities, prompting the electoral body to investigate.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula expressed openness to negotiations with all parties, including the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), which holds 21.8% of the votes. Collaboration between the ANC and DA could potentially secure a majority for governance. Despite winning 159 seats in the 400-seat Parliament (a decrease from 230 in the previous election), the ANC remains a key player in coalition talks.
With time constraints for coalition discussions and the imperative to establish a new Parliament and elect a president within 14 days of the election results, political dynamics are intensifying. While President Ramaphosa seeks a second term, Mbalula affirmed his leadership position within the ANC despite challenges.
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As South Africa navigates through this critical period, political analysts are closely monitoring the potential coalition scenarios. While an ANC-DA partnership could offer stability, internal opposition within the ANC may complicate matters. The involvement of smaller parties to balance power dynamics is also under consideration to facilitate smoother negotiations.
The evolving political landscape in South Africa underscores the importance of mature and strategic decision-making among political stakeholders as they navigate complex coalition discussions with an eye toward national stability and progress.
Additional Source:AP
