ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula revealed the ruling party’s stance on coalition talks as they face the possibility of losing their majority for the first time in 30 years.
Fikile Mbalula on the ‘Ramaphosa’ contingency in coalition talks
Addressing the media at the National Results Centre in Midrand, on Sunday, Mbalula confirmed that the ANC is open to engaging with all political parties, given the lack of an outright majority in the general elections.
Mbalula noted the significant decline in the party’s support and mentioned that he had been mandated to engage in coalition talks. He revealed:
“We are talking to everybody because the election did not give us an outright majority.”
However, Mbalula made it clear that any coalition demands involving the removal of President Cyril Ramaphosa would be rejected outright.
“Cyril is a no-go area. You come to us with that demand, forget,” he stated, reinforcing the party’s support for Ramaphosa.
What is the ANC’s strategy going forward?
Mbalula outlined the ANC’s strategy moving forward, revealing that they are in discussions with various political parties, including the DA, EFF, and IFP.
He mentioned that the ANC will announce its coalition plans after an NEC meeting on Tuesday, 4 June 2024.
Mbalula assured that the interests of the people would be prioritised in these talks.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by the ANC, including low voter turnout, the water crisis in KZN, and the emergence of former president Jacob Zuma’s MK Party, which significantly impacted their support base.
Despite the setbacks, Mbalula asserted that the ANC remains a formidable force and will come back stronger.
“We are still a force to be reckoned with. We believe in persuading the voters. We ran a clean campaign,” he said.
Fikile Mbalula warns forces inciting violence about the consequences
Mbalula issued a stern warning to those attempting to incite violence or undermine the electoral process.
He emphasised the need for all South Africans to respect the democratic process and the election results.
“We call on all South Africans to resist the efforts of those forces who want to weaken our democracy,” he stated.
Mbalula condemned any threats of violence and urged parties with disputes to raise them with the IEC.
Reflecting on the ANC’s 40% election result, Mbalula pointed out various factors contributing to the outcome and expressed a commitment to addressing these issues.
He reassured that the ANC accepted the election results and commended the IEC for their work:
“We commend the IEC for a job well done,” he concluded.