Cyril Ramaphosa's Presidency at Risk as ANC Faces Coalition Government Decision

The African National Congress (ANC) may need to form a coalition government for the first time in its history as the party's poor performance in the recent general election puts President Cyril Ramaphosa's leadership under threat.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s position as President of South Africa and leader of the African National Congress (ANC) is under threat following the party’s poor performance in the recent general election. With over half the votes counted, the ANC is at 41.9%, down from the 57.5% it secured in 2019. This shortfall means the ANC may need to form a coalition government for the first time since coming to power in 1994.

Mavuso Msimang, a respected ANC figure, has raised doubts about Ramaphosa's future, suggesting that if the vote hovers around 40%, there may be calls for his resignation. Potential coalition partners include the Democratic Alliance (DA), which has 23.5% of votes, or Jacob Zuma’s Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, at just over 11%.

Paul Mashatile, Ramaphosa’s deputy, is seen as more inclined to form a coalition with the MK party and possibly the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which has 9.5% of votes. Analysts suggest Ramaphosa needs to act swiftly to secure a deal with the DA to avoid being ousted by his own party. Final election results are expected by Sunday, with coalition negotiations likely shaping South Africa’s political landscape.