ANC says Ramaphosa will not step down for the sake of a coalition

PRETORIA,  South Africa 

South Africa's African National Congress party will not consider any demands from possible coalition partners that President Cyril Ramaphosa step down, a top official said Sunday, as the ANC attempted to present a united front after a stinging election result ended its 30-year majority.

As South Africa heads for a series of complex talks to form a national coalition government for the first time and establish stability, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said Ramaphosa would remain as party leader and any demands from others that he resign for talks to go ahead was “a no-go area.”

President Ramaphosa is the president of the ANC,” Mbalula said in the ANC leadership's first public comments since the landmark election results.

“If you come to us with the demand that Ramaphosa must step down as a president, that is not going to happen.”

Mbalula said the ANC was open to talks with every other political party in an effort to form a government.

The ANC received just over 40% of votes, falling well short of the majority it has held for all of South Africa’s young democracy.

It will still be the biggest party by some way.

But it needs to talk with others to form a government and to reelect Ramaphosa for a second and final term.

South Africa’s president is elected by Parliament after national elections.

“The results sent a clear message to the ANC,” Mbalula said.

“We wish to assure the people of South Africa that we have heard them.”

He said the ANC was committed to forming a government that reflects the will of the people and is stable.

The new MK Party of former President Jacob Zuma, which won 14% in the election in a surprise showing that makes it the third biggest in parliament, has said Ramaphosa must go as leader of the ANC and the country for it to enter any coalition talks with the ANC.

The ANC has many options for coalition partners among South Africa's other parties, including one with the main opposition Democratic Alliance, which won 21% of votes.