Cyril Ramaphosa Re-Elected as South Africa’s President

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected for a second term, securing a majority of votes in the National Assembly, as announced by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on Friday. Ramaphosa received 283 votes, while Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, garnered 44 votes. Earlier in the day, the Democratic Alliance (DA) party declared its support for Ramaphosa as part of an agreement with the African National Congress (ANC) to form a unity government.

Ramaphosa’s re-election follows a fraught two weeks of negotiations after the ANC failed to win a majority in the country’s seventh democratic election. After a full day of proceedings during the first sitting of the National Assembly of the seventh Parliament, Ramaphosa, President of the ANC, was nominated for the position of President on Friday evening. The sitting took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in the Western Cape.

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Three hundred and thirty-nine ballot papers were issued and counted, with 12 invalid ballots. Ramaphosa received 283 votes, defeating Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, who received 44 votes. African National Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Mdumiseni Ntuli nominated Ramaphosa for the position of President, and his nomination was seconded by Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader and MP Velenkosini Hlabisa, during a process presided over by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

The President’s election followed the appointment of former Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza as the Speaker of the National Assembly, after receiving 284 votes against her competitor Veronica Mente from the EFF, who received 49 votes. The Democratic Alliance’s Dr. Annelie Lotriet was elected Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly for the seventh Parliament, securing 273 votes, while Vuyolwethu Zungula, leader of the African Transformation Movement, received 54 votes.

The first sitting of the National Assembly took place after the General Election on May 29. The day’s proceedings began with the swearing-in of Members of Parliament, who took an oath or affirmation to be faithful to the Republic of South Africa, and to obey, respect, and uphold the Constitution and all other laws of the Republic.

South Africa’s recent National and Provincial Elections were the most contested and compelling since the dawn of democracy in 1994. As in the post-1994 election period, President-elect Ramaphosa is expected to lead a Government of National Unity into the future. This will be his second term as the leader of South Africa’s government. He is expected to be inaugurated next Wednesday, June 19.

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Source: SA gov news