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The African National Congress (ANC) will invite other political parties to form a ‘national government of unity’, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday.

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The announcement was made during Ramaphosa’s closing address of the special sitting of the ANC’s National Executive Committee’s (NEC) meeting, which was held to decide the next steps on how the ANC will constitute government.

Last week’s national elections saw the ANC losing its majority for the first time, although it remains South Africa’s largest party and will control 159 of the 400 seats in the new National Assembly, Reuters reports.

During his address, Ramaphosa said the ANC believed the best option would be ‘broad collaboration’ with other political parties.

‘Political parties should come together to forge a common future for our country. We must act with speed to safeguard national unity, peace, stability, inclusive economic growth, non-racialism and non-sexism.’

‘We will not preclude the possibility of working with any party so long as it is in the public interest,’ he added.

Furthermore, Ramaphosa said the ANC already held talks with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Inkatha Freedom Party, National Freedom Party and the Patriotic Alliance.

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The uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party confirmed yesterday that ‘engagements with the ANC have indeed taken place regarding the coalition discussions’.

‘A meeting is expected to take place soon, where the MK Party will hear the views presented with an open mind, while firmly prioritizing the inspirations and aspirations of the South African majority and blacks in particular,’ it said on X.

Ramaphosa said the purpose of a government of national unity is to address ‘the pressing issues that South Africans want to be addressed’.

The constitutional deadline falls on or near 16 June as the new parliament must convene within two weeks of Sunday’s results announcement. One of its first acts is to elect a new president.

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Picture: MyANC / Facebook

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