South Africa’s president urges parties to find common ground in talks after election deadlock

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called Sunday for parties to overcome their differences and find “common ground” to form the first national coalition government in the country's young democracy.

His comments came in a speech straight after final election results were announced confirming that no party won a majority in last week's vote. Unprecedented coalition talks were set to start to find a way forward for Africa's most advanced economy.

Ramaphosa's African National Congress party had already lost its 30-year majority after more than 99% of votes were counted by Saturday and showed it couldn't surpass 50%. The ANC received 40.18% of the votes in last week's election in the final count, the largest share.

Without a majority it will need to agree on a coalition with another party or parties for the first time to co-govern and reelect Ramaphosa for a second term. South Africa's national elections decide how many seats each party gets in Parliament and lawmakers elect the president later.

“Our people have spoken,” Ramaphosa said. “Whether we like it or not, they have spoken. We have heard the voices of our people and we must respect their choices and their wishes.”

“The people of South Africa expect their leaders to work together to meet their needs. This is a time for all of us to put South Africa first.”

At least 26 political parties, including the uMkhonto weSizwe Party led by former President Jacob Zuma, have lodged objections and complaints with the electoral body over allegations of voting irregularities, which it has promised to address.

The ANC was the party of Nelson Mandela and freed South Africa from the apartheid system of white minority rule in 1994. It had governed with a comfortable majority since then.

This election saw an unprecedented slump in its support, with voters seen to be deserting the party due to its failure to solve widespread poverty and extremely high unemployment levels, as well as problems with the delivery of basic government services to many in a nation of 62 million.

The ANC had said earlier Sunday that it was starting its negotiations with all major parties. More than 50 took part in the election, and at least eight had significant shares of the vote.

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