Parliament Re-Elects Ramaphosa As South African President After Forming Coalition Government

The late Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress ruled South Africa for thirty years until the election last month, which signaled a historic turning point for the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa was re-elected for a second term on Friday following the formation of a historic coalition government by his humbled ANC.

Following a general election on May 29 that yielded no clear winner, lawmakers in Cape Town overwhelmingly agreed to re-install 71-year-old Ramaphosa in power for a further five years.

Chief Justice Raymond Zondo declared after the ballots were counted that “honorable M.C. Ramaphosa duly elected President.”

The election held last month signaled a historic turning point for South Africa, ending the African National Congress of the late Nelson Mandela’s three decades of power.

Only forty percent of voters supported the party that spearheaded the campaign to end apartheid, and it lost its absolute majority in parliament for the first time.

It has now reached an agreement to establish a unity government.

Most of the 18 parties that were granted representation in the 400-seat National Assembly are included in the wide coalition, according to ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, who made this announcement on Friday.

These include the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the center-right Democratic Alliance (DA), and various smaller parties.

In a secret ballot, Ramaphosa received 283 votes from other MPs to be re-elected.

Julius Malema, the fervent leader of the extreme leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who received 44 votes for his nomination, mounted a last-minute challenge to him.

Next week in Pretoria, Ramaphosa will take office and introduce his new cabinet.

Prior to the voting on the election of a speaker and deputy speaker, Zondo had convened the first meeting of the parliament and sworn in the lawmakers one by one.

Thoko Didiza of the ANC received the first post, while Annelie Lotriet of the DA received the second, suggesting that the power-sharing agreement was beginning to take effect. They are both female.

In a protracted ceremony conducted in a Cape Town convention center, legislators cast their votes one by one while the parliament building was being rebuilt following a fire in 2022.

Members of the EFF took the oath donning fake construction worker helmets, rubber boots, and red overalls.

They refused to consider forming an alliance with right-wing or white-led parties, hence they rejected to back the incoming administration.

“This is a grand coalition between the ANC and white monopoly capital, not a government of national unity.” Speaking after admitting defeat, Malema stated, “History will judge you harshly.”

The graft-tainted new party of former president Jacob Zuma, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), placed third in the May 29 election, has denied the results, and its members abstained from the meeting on Friday.

MK spokeswoman Nhlamulo Ndhlela told AFP, “As far as we’re concerned, the sitting of the national assembly today is illegal and unconstitutional.”

Ramaphosa, a rich businessman and former trade unionist, will lead a government that combines sharply divergent political ideologies.

Overseeing welfare and economic empowerment programs for impoverished Black South Africans, the African National Congress (ANC) is a progressive left-wing party with a long history in Africa.

The liberal, free-market agenda is promoted by the DA, the main coalition party. From the far left to the far right, smaller parties are said to have consented to join the administration.

DA leader John Steenhuisen stated, “A shared respect and defense of our constitution and the rule of law is at the heart of this government of national unity statement.”