South Africa Elections: ANC 'explores' options with coalitions as it loses majority

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has said that it is “exploring” options about the formation of a new coalition government.

In the South Africa’s parliamentary elections held earlier this week, the ANC lost the majority for the first time since the apartheid ended in the country in 1994.

Even as signs of unrest have emerged as MK party leader Jacob Zuma has rejected the results, President Cyril Ramaphosa of ANC has urged the country to stay united and has asked everyone to accept the results.

ANC loses majority for 1st time

For the first time in 30 years, the ANC’s share of seats has fallen under 50 per cent.

In the 400-member National Assembly (NA), the ANC won just 159 seats, as per AFP news agency.

The ANC was followed by the centre-right opposition party Democratic Alliance (DA) with 87, MK with 58, and the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) of with 39, according to the news agency.

While the ANC garnered 57 per cent vote share in 2019, it received just under 40 per cent this time, as per the agency,

Is ANC seeking a coalition government?

There are signs that the ANC may be seeking to build a coalition government.

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula told AFP that the party was having “exploratory discussions at the moment” regarding a coalition.

“We talk to everybody,” said Mbalula.

Mbalula said the ANC hoped to achieve a deal “as fast as we can”.

The NA is scheduled to meet within two weeks and the first task the parliament will have is to elect a new president. With no outright winner and the ANC losing the majority but emerging as the single-largest party, it will have to seek outside support to form a coalition government if it has to retain power.

On his part, DA leader John Steenhuisen has said he is willing to work with the ANC. He said he is willing to work even if it means he would be part of a “Doomsday Coalition” between ANC, MK, and the EFF, as per AFP.

Steenhuisen was said to have described MK and EFF manifesto promises to nationalise privately owned land and undermine judicial independence as “an all-out assault on the constitution of our country”, as per the agency.

“We urge all others who love our constitution and all it represents to set aside petty politics and narrow sectarian interests and join hands now,” Steenhuisen was quoted as saying.