• ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the election results reflect the will of South Africans and has condemned threats of violence at the official declaration of the results.
• He said the ANC is open to coalition talk, but discussions about removing President Cyril Ramaphosa are a “no-go area”.
• Find everything you need to know about the 2024 general elections on News24’s Election’s Hub.

While the ANC is open to coalition talks, discussions about removing President Cyril Ramaphosa are a “no-go area” and everything must be guided by respect for the Constitution and rule of law.

This is according to ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, who addressed the media at the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) national results operations centre on Sunday morning, on the back of the ANC losing its outright national majority for the first time.

On Saturday night, corruption-accused former president Jacob Zuma threatened violence should the IEC declare on Sunday evening that it has completed and verified the election results as they currently stand without a recount, which he said would result in his Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party obtaining a two-thirds majority.

The MK Party plans to abolish the Constitution – which prevents Zuma from becoming president again and requires that he stand trial for corruption – in favour of parliamentary supremacy. A two-thirds majority is needed for this.

Mbalula condemned the threats of violence and called on all South Africans to resist the efforts of “those forces” that want to undermine democracy.

He asked the nation to stand together against those who threaten violence, saying the people of South Africa had shown their preference in a free and fair election that must not be undermined.

READ | ‘Don’t start trouble when there is no trouble’: Zuma warns against declaring election results

He told those with concerns to raise their concerns with the IEC.

Mbalula said he was unhappy about many things during the election, but added that those grievances are due to exist in any election and did not have a material effect on the results.

“So, we commend the IEC on a job well done.”

He said the ANC also commends the people of South Africa for demonstrating the strength and vibrancy of the country’s democracy.

Mbalula added that the results reflect an ANC that remains the most popular party in South Africa. The party stood at 40.22% support as at 14:00 on Sunday and had achieved a “decisive majority” in five provinces, he said.

On several occasions during his briefing, Mbalula said the ANC had received a “firm mandate” to secure outright majority in the election. However, the slump it had suffered meant a governing coalition now needs to be formed.

He said the ANC would now enter coalition talks, as the people of South Africa had made it clear that they want political leaders to work together.

Mbalula said: “The ANC is open to talking with everyone, including the MK Party. That’s where we are; talks about talks are in full swing.”

The ANC’s national executive committee will have a meeting on Tuesday, and a way forward will be communicated thereafter.

Mbalula also said the Constitution and rule of law would guide the party on coalitions, as well as considerations about how any possible coalition would serve the ANC’s constituency.

“How do we serve the interests of South African people better? The glue that binds us together is South African-ness,” he said.

“We are talking, but we are not begging. We are not going to beg anyone.

“We cannot be strutting as peacocks when we have not been given status to strut.”

However, any demands for Ramaphosa to step aside will not be entertained.

“Ramaphosa is the president of the ANC. If you come to us with a demand that Ramaphosa must stand down as president, that is not going to happen.

“That is a no-go area.”

He said the ANC would take up the opposition benches if needs be.

“We will not be bullied,” said Mbalula. “And you’ll see the biggest opposition benches ever.”

READ | Mantashe surprised by MK Party support in KZN, but still believes ANC will win 50% of national vote

In contrast to ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe’s earlier statements, Mbalula said the ANC wasn’t surprised that the MK Party ate into its base in KwaZulu-Natal and, to some extent, in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, but they didn’t expect the slice to be as big as it was.

He described Zuma as “a force to be reckoned with” and spoke of “how the situation of Zuma erupted” was “unstoppable”.

“It had not favoured us, but it served him well.”

He added that Zuma filled the void of a “father figure leader in KwaZulu-Natal”.

Mbalula admitted that the ANC had made mistakes, including in governance.

He said their internal polling had paced them at 43% support, and they worked very hard to avoid that outcome.

Mbalula said several factors were against them, and complained that the media used “very harsh words” against the ANC.

“As we got into this election, everyone wanted us down, including the media. And you did your part. We can’t blame you, but you did,” Mbalula said to journalists.

The ANC has a team led by his deputy, Nomvula Mokonyane, analysing the results.

“Our job is to start doing things right,” said Mbalula.

He added that if the ANC didn’t strengthen its “renewal”, it would soon be in trouble.

“We need to correct ourselves … the path we have started, the things we have been warned about by society, the elders,” he said.

He added that the ANC would not abandon ship because 6 million people still believe in them.

“We are still standing. We will come back.” 

Ultimately, however, he said the election results were an expression of the will of the people, and the ANC must accept that will.

“We want to assure the people of South Africa that we have heard them,” he concluded.