South Africa’s president calls on political parties to work together after election deadlock

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) – South Africa’s president on Sunday urged political parties that won votes last week to find common ground by overcoming their differences and work together for the good of the country.

South Africans last week voted for national and provincial lawmakers in an election which saw President Cyril Ramaphosa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) party – in power since 1994 – fall short of getting a majority for the first time.

Addressing the nation after electoral authorities announced the results on Sunday, Ramaphosa said: "Our people expect all parties to work together within the framework of our Constitution and address whatever challenges we encounter peacefully and in accordance with the prescripts of our Constitution and the rule of law."

Ramaphosa called on all parties to recognize that the results of the election reflect the will of the people.

"We have held another successful election that has been free, fair and peaceful," he said.

On Saturday, former President Jacob Zuma urged electoral authorities not to declare the election results on Sunday as more than two dozen political parties disputed the outcome.

“We are going to need time, nobody should declare results tomorrow (Sunday). I am hoping whoever is responsible is hearing what we are saying. Don’t start trouble where there is no trouble,” Zuma told reporters.

The ANC, which had 230 members of parliament in the previous house, saw its support fall to 159 seats in the 400-member National Assembly.

The official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) now has 87 seats, while Zuma’s newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe party garnered 58 seats, pushing the Economic Freedom Fighters party led by Julius Malema to the number four position after getting 39 seats.

Other big parties in the new National Assembly will include the Ikatha Freedom Party (IFP), which got 17 seats, followed by the Patriotic Alliance (PA), with nine.

The ANC still has the highest number of seats and so will have to assemble a coalition with some parties to form the next government.

Security has been beefed in areas across the country seen as hotpots for protests and violence.

Despite his party underperforming in the elections, Ramaphosa said the results represent a victory for democracy, for the country's constitutional order, and for all the people of South Africa.

South Africans vote for lawmakers of provincial legislatures and the 400 members of parliament, known as the National Assembly.

The voting is on a party basis and the parties get seats in parliament.

The lawmakers then elect the president, which means that the party that wins the election gets the ultimate power in the country.