After being reelected by politicians, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has won a subsequent word. His African National Congress ( ANC ) and the Democratic Alliance ( DA ) have forged a historic coalition, putting an end to their tense rivalry.
In next week’s votes, the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in three years, securing only 40 % of the voting. With 22 %, the Democratic Alliance ( DA ) came in second place.
The recently formed government of national unification includes Ramaphosa’s ANC, the middle- right DA, and numerous smaller events.
Ramaphosa, 71, won the vote with comfortable late on Friday, defeating Julius Malema, the leader of the far- left Economic Freedom Fighters ( EFF). Ramaphosa received 283 seats, while Malema received just 44.
Prior to this election, Parliament elected Annelie Lotriet of the DA as Deputy Speaker and Thoko Didiza of the ANC as Speaker.
Following his opening on Wednesday, Ramaphosa is expected to unveil his new Cabinet.
Ramaphosa praised the new coalition in his victory speech, saying that voters expected them to “act and work together for the great of everyone in our land.”
The election result, reached close to midnight on Friday, concluded some days of debate. The last minute inter-party discussions resulted in the formation of a government of national unity ( GNU). Regular interruptions and lengthy voting procedures were present during the legislative session.
The ANC forged a partnership with the DA, which is largely white, the Inkatha Freedom Party ( IFP), and the minority Patriotic Front ( PF). Members of the party and people alike had mixed reactions to this relationship.
Some people saw this alliance as a good action, indicating a new period in South African politics with an emphasis on socioeconomic recovery and healing. This was particularly true after the new group, MK, led by ex-president Jacob Zuma, and the EFF, which finished fifth, refused to work with the DA.
Others felt that working with the DA, which had previously opposed some ANC policies since Nelson Mandela’s group first seized power in 1994, betrayed people trust.
At a press event as the voting raged in Parliament, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said,” We were voted for by six million people who want us to carry out the transformative mission to change the lives of the people for the better.” He acknowledged that the ANC was unable to operate independently. We are not in a position to run this nation only. We need to operate with people”, Mbalula said.
( With PTI inputs )
