ANC loses SA’s parliament majority seats, forced into coalition

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has lost the majority of seats needed to win the country’s parliament.

The South African Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced the results on Sunday evening.

The outcome of the polls means that the ANC will have to form a coalition to form the next government.

Out of 400 seats in the national assembly, the ruling party was only able to gather 159, the IEC said.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has 87 seats, while the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, backed by former President Jacob Zuma, garnered 58.

The MK party had wanted the results announcement postponed over “irregularities”.

The party has also refused to work with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In a speech after the IEC’s presentation, Ramaphosa said he accepted the outcome.

Hinting at a coalition, the president told his opponents that the voters expected the parties to find common ground.

“What this election has made plain is that the people of South Africa expect their leaders to work together to meet their needs,” Ramaphosa said.

“They expect the parties for which they voted to find common ground, to overcome their differences, for the good of everyone.”

Ramaphosa urged them to put South Africa first.