South Africa's ANC wants national unity government

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa looks on during a swearing-in ceremony at Sefako Makgato Presidential Guesthouse on May 30, 2019, in Pretoria, South Africa. [AFP]

South Africa's ruling ANC said Wednesday it had reached out to rivals to form a government of national unity, after failing to win an outright majority in last week's general election.

The final tally gave President Cyril Ramaphosa's African National Congress only 159 members in the 400-seat National Assembly, down from 230 and its lowest score in a general election.