Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected as South Africa’s president after the governing African National Congress (ANC) formed an unprecedented coalition with opposition parties.
The coalition includes Ramaphosa’s ANC, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and several smaller parties.
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This strategic alliance was necessitated by the ANC losing its majority in the recent elections, marking a significant shift in South African politics after the party’s 30-year dominance since the end of apartheid.
In the national assembly, which has 400 seats, the ANC secured only 159, as reported by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The DA won 87 seats, and the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, supported by former President Jacob Zuma, obtained 58 seats.
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Ramaphosa emphasized the need for unity and cooperation among political leaders to address the expectations of the South African people.
“Our citizens demand that we work together to fulfill their needs,” he stated.
Following two weeks of intense negotiations with opposition parties, a consensus to re-elect Ramaphosa was reached.
In his victory speech, Ramaphosa praised the coalition and urged all parties to focus on the welfare of South Africans.
DA leader John Steenhuisen expressed optimism about the coalition’s potential to create positive change.
“We have a unique opportunity to write a new chapter for South Africa, one that promises collaboration and progress,” he said.
Ramaphosa is anticipated to integrate members from the coalition parties into his cabinet, signaling a new era of collaborative governance in South Africa.
