South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) has suggested forming a government of national unity after losing its parliamentary majority in last week's elections.

ANC spokesperson, MAHLENGI BHENGU-MOTSIRI told newsmen

The party has reached out to all parties, but negotiations are still underway.

The ANC spokesperson added that the party would like to resolve this quickly as parliament convene in less than two weeks.

Its priority will be to elect a president to form the next government.

This is the first time the ANC has lost its majority since NELSON MANDELA led it to victory in the first democratic elections following the end of the racist system of apartheid in 1994.

Under South Africa's proportional representation system, any government would need to be formed of parties which together got more than 50 per cent of the vote.