South Africa’s ANC rejects demand for Ramaphosa to step down for coalition talks

South Africa’s African National Congress will not consider any demands from possible coalition partners that President Cyril Ramaphosa step down, a top official has said (Jerome Delay/AP)

South Africa’s African National Congress will not consider any demands from possible coalition partners that President Cyril Ramaphosa step down, a top official said on Sunday, as the party attempted to present a united front after a stinging election result ended its 30-year majority.

As South Africa heads for a series of complex talks to form a national coalition government for the first time and establish stability, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said Mr Ramaphosa will remain as party leader and that calls for him to resign for talks to go ahead is “a no-go area.”