“This is the time for all of us to put South Africa first,” Ramaphosa tells political parties

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has urged political parties to work together for the benefit of the country.

Ramaphosa made the call after final results from last week’s keenly contested election confirmed his African National Congress had lost its majority for the first time in about three decades.

He said, “South Africans expect the parties for which they have voted to find common ground, overcome their differences and act together for the good of everyone.”

Ramaphosa called the election a “victory for our democracy.”

“This is the time for all of us to put South Africa first,” he added.

The outcome of the poll is the worst election result for the ANC since it came to power after the end of apartheid.

Agitations of voters, angry at lack of jobs, inequality, and the electricity crisis, can be felt in the election outcome as support for the ANC fell to 40.2%, from 57.5% in the previous 2019 parliamentary vote.

Official results showed the ANC managed to win 159 seats in the 400-seat National Assembly, down from 230 it had in the last race.

The outcome means that the ANC must now share power, likely with a major political rival, in order to stay in power.

Political parties now have two weeks to work out a deal before the new parliament sits to choose a president.
Mr. Ramaphosa may likely emerge again despite calls for him to step down.