5 months ago
26
NEW DELHI:
South African President
Cyril Ramaphosa has secured a second term after being
reelected
by lawmakers. This follows a historic
coalition
between his African National Congress (
ANC
) and the Democratic Alliance (
DA
), setting aside their deep-seated rivalry.
In last month's elections, the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in three decades, securing only 40% of the vote.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) came in second with 22%.
The newly formed
government of national unity
includes Ramaphosa's ANC, the center-right DA, and several smaller parties.
Ramaphosa, 71, won the vote with ease late on Friday, defeating
Julius Malema
, the leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Ramaphosa received 283 votes, while Malema received just 44.
Earlier in the day, Parliament elected Thoko Didiza of the ANC as Speaker and Annelie Lotriet of the DA as Deputy Speaker.
Ramaphosa is expected to announce his new Cabinet following his inauguration on Wednesday.
In his victory speech, Ramaphosa hailed the new coalition, and said voters expected the leaders to "act and to work together for the good of everyone in our country".
The election result, reached close to midnight on Friday, concluded several days of speculation. Last-minute inter-party discussions led to the formation of a government of national unity (GNU). The parliamentary session saw frequent interruptions and extended voting processes.
The ANC formed an alliance with the predominantly white DA, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and the minority Patriotic Front (PF). This partnership drew mixed reactions from party members and citizens alike.
Some viewed this alliance as a positive step, signaling a new era in South African politics focused on reconciliation and economic recovery. This sentiment was especially relevant after MK, the new party founded by ousted former president Jacob Zuma, and the EFF, which came fourth, refused to collaborate with the DA.
Others felt the ANC had betrayed public trust by partnering with the DA, which had historically opposed many ANC policies since the party first took power under Nelson Mandela in 1994.
"We were voted for by six million people who want us to continue the transformational agenda to changing the lives of the people for the better," ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said at a media conference as the voting inside Parliament continued. He conceded that the ANC could not do it alone. "We are in no position to govern this country alone. We need to work with others," Mbalula said.
(With PTI inputs)
