The United Democratic Movement (UDM) Member of Parliament (MP) Nqabayomzi Kwankwa says the African National Congress (ANC) must heed the message of the electorate following the local government elections, adding that people resent the party’s "exaggerated sense of self-importance".

Kwankwa was speaking at the first plenary session in the National Assembly of Parliament’s third term, and the first since the 2016 local elections.

"The local election results show the people of South Africa have rejected President Jacob Zuma, a man who continues to live as a profligate king while the people live in poverty," he said.

"This message is clear – our people resent your arrogance, and what has become an exaggerated sense of self-importance."

Kwankwa also questioned those who criticised opposition parties for working together to topple the ANC in key metros like Gauteng and Nelson Mandela Bay.

"Other people have been saying we’ve sold out. Sold out to what?" he asked. "None of us want to partner with you [ANC] when you’re so corrupt. It’s a fact.

"We will show the people that it is possible to run a corruption-free government."

'Zuma must be careful of predictions'

Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder, meanwhile, told the House that the elections showed that smaller parties matter.

"What lessons did we learn from this election? We learnt that voters punish arrogance, that every vote counts, and that smaller parties are important.

"The president should be careful about making predictions. President Zuma told people that if they leave the ANC, they would have bad luck.

"Will Mr Zuma go back to Soweto and tell voters what went wrong? Will he go to Tshwane and tell the people that the ANC lost before Jesus came back?"

Mulder said it will be an acid test of our democracy if the ANC ever had to hand over power at the Union Buildings peacefully, following losses in the general election.

He also said opposition parties should resist the urge to celebrate the "perceived end of the ANC".

"The ANC has been wounded, but it is therefore dangerous."