South Africa’s parliament re-elects Cyril Ramaphosa as president

South Africa’s parliament has re-elected Cyril Ramaphosa as the country’s president following a landmark coalition deal between the governing African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties.

The new government of national unity combines Mr Ramaphosa’s ANC, the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA) and other smaller parties, after the ANC lost its absolute majority in last month’s general election for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994.

I am humbled and honoured that you, as members of the National Assembly, have… decided to elect me to be the President of the Republic of South Africa.

Mr Ramaphosa, 71, secured a second term after receiving 283 votes in the National Assembly, comfortably defeating the only other candidate, Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who received 44 votes.

The deal between the ANC and the DA, which have been bitter rivals for decades, marks a significant shift in South African politics. The two parties have agreed to work together to address the country’s pressing challenges, including high unemployment, poverty and inequality.

Mr Ramaphosa’s re-election is seen as a crucial step in stabilizing the country and ensuring a smooth transition to the new government. He is expected to be inaugurated for his second term in the coming days.