South African bishops urge politicians to ‘work together’ after ANC loses majority

South Africa’s Catholic bishops urged all politicians to accept the national election results announced on Sunday and to turn their attention to helping the country.

The elections held on 29 May saw the ruling African National Congress (ANC) lose its outright majority, which it has retained since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. Scores of newly-formed parties had contested the election as worsening economic inequality undermined the ANC’s support.

In a statement issued on 3 June, the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) called on all “parties to avoid utterances and behaviour that could lead to acts of violence, destruction, and loss of life”.

This was in response to some parties’ declared intentions to challenge the results. The bishops warned against stoking political tensions in a country already beset by widespread violent crime.

“This includes making threats, inciting violence, or spreading false information that could escalate tensions,” they said, adding that all politicians must “work together for the good of the country” during coalition negotiations. The ANC must seek allies to run the government for the first time.

“Politicians must focus on what needs to be done to serve the people who elected them and choose people for positions and roles according to their capacity and passion to carry out those tasks,” the bishops said.

The SACBC statement also praised the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the body responsible for running the elections, saying it demonstrated “professionalism and efficiency in facilitating elections”.

“We also thank the political parties for their vigilance in noting some concerns during the voting process and the IEC’s willingness to address these objections as provided by the act governing the IEC,” the bishops’ said.

The bishops welcomed the prospect of a coalition government, saying it presented a “unique opportunity for those elected to work together for the good of the country, putting all ideologies aside”.

“More importantly, politicians must focus on what needs to be done to serve the people who elected them and choose people for positions and roles according to their capacity and passion to carry out those tasks,” they said.

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