The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has secured a second term in office after being re-elected by MPs. This comes after a historic coalition between his African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), burying their deep-seated animosity.
In the last month’s elections, the ANC lost its majority in parliament for the first time in 30 years, receiving just 40% of the vote.The Democratic Alliance (DA) was second with 22%.
Ramaphosa’s ANC, together with the center-right DA and other small parties, forms part of a new government of national unity.
Cyril Ramaphosa won Friday’s ballot easily beating Julius Malema, leader of far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The president got 283 versus only 44 votes for his main rival.
ANC member Thoko Didiza was elected Speaker while Annelie Lotriet from DA took over as Deputy Speaker earlier today.
Following his inauguration on Wednesday, Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce his new Cabinet members.
During his victory speech, he lauded this new alliance saying that voters expected them to “act and work together for the good of everyone in our country”.
Late night election result brought several days’ speculations to an end. Last-minute inter-party discussions resulted into the formation of a GNU. Parliamentary session experienced frequent disruptions and protracted voting processes.
This partnership sparked mixed reactions among party members and citizens alike as it entailed ANC forming an alliance with almost entirely white DA, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), as well as minority Patriotic Front (PF).
Some felt that this union marked progress in South African politics signaling a new era focusing on reconciliation and economic revival. This feeling came especially after MK rejected collaborating with DA alongside EFF that came fourth in these elections.
Nevertheless there were those who maintained that by partnering with opposition DA which had opposed most ANC policies since Nelson Mandela led it into power in 1994, ANC had misled the electorate.
“Six million people voted for us because they want us to continue the transformational agenda of changing their own lives for better”, Fikile Mbalula, the ANC Secretary General said while being interviewed by media as voting was going on inside Parliament. He admitted that ANC alone could not do it. “We cannot govern this country alone. We must work with others,” added Mbalula.
