Days after a drubbing at the ballot box, the leaders of South Africa's ruling African National Congress met to discuss the way forward. The party has vowed to enter a period of "soul-searching" to see how to win back voters. But to remain in local government, it will have to engage with other parties.
African National Congress national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said that President Cyril Ramaphosa will not resign, as the party's top leadership met on Thursday at the special National Executive Committee meeting to discuss the way forward following recent local government elections.
The party’s vote share dropped 15 percentage points to just 31 percent.
"There is a lot of fabrication about the President, that he has offered to resign, we urge South Africans to treat that as such. The ANC performance, this local government elections requires a proper reflection today. This is the day when that is going to happen," she said.
While speaking about how ANC will engage with other political parties in forming coalition governments in municipalities where no party secured an outright majority, Bhengu-Motsiri stated that the party respects the choice of the voters.
"This NEC will receive reports on the initial engagements with other political parties and consider the mandating guide for adoption.
