The African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa has stated it will not entertain any coalition demands requiring President Cyril Ramaphosa's resignation. This stance comes as the ANC faces complex coalition talks following an election that ended its 30-year parliamentary majority. The announcement was made by ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.
In the recent elections, the ANC garnered just over 40% of the vote, well short of the majority it has held since the end of apartheid in 1994. The party must now seek coalition partners to form a government and re-elect Ramaphosa for a second term. Former President Jacob Zuma's newly formed MK Party, which secured 14% of the vote, has called for Ramaphosa's removal as a condition for any coalition.
The ANC remains the largest party, but with reduced dominance. It is open to coalition talks with all other parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), which received 21% of the vote. Mbalula emphasized that no party would dictate terms to the ANC.
The election marks a pivotal moment in South Africa's political landscape, leading to the nation's first coalition government and potentially reshaping its future.