Ramaphosa clinches second term in office

June 16, 2024 63

Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected as the President of South Africa.

Ramaphosa squared off with the EFF’s Julius Malema for the country’s top position.

In a clean sweep, the 71-year-old secured 283 votes while Malema only managed to garner 44 votes.

Ramaphosa was re-elected to lead country during the first sitting of the National Assembly on Friday.

The ANC’s Thoko Didiza has been elected as the Speaker of Parliament, and the DA’s Anneliem Lotriet is her deputy.

In total, 342 Members of Parliament (MPs) have so far taken their oath of office, in the absence of the MK Party who have 58 seats in the National Assembly.

The party led by former president Jacob Zuma stuck to its guns and boycotted the first sitting of the House.

Ramaphosa’s election comes in the wake of the landmark Government of National Unity (GNU), a route the ANC decided to take after it failed to receive an outright majority in the historic 2024 general elections.

The ANC drastically dipped, only securing 40.18% of votes, a significant drop from the 57.7% the party obtained in the 2019 general polls.

The liberation movement faced the worst election results under the leadership of Ramaphosa, who presided over the disastrous sixth administration, which saw the country’s economy stall.

During the previous tenure, Ramaphosa steered the ship amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 July unrest and the state capture commission, among other grave issues.

In his acceptance speech, Ramaphosa said the country was entering an era of hope and inclusivity.

He reiterated that the results of the 2024 elections have made it clear that the people of South Africa expect their leaders to work together to meet their needs.

“They expect the parties, for which they voted for, to find common ground and to overcome their differences, to act and to work together for the good of everyone in our country.”

Ramaphosa has slammed assertions that the GNU is a grand coalition.

“We’ve been here before, we were here in 1994, when we sought to unite our country and to effect reconciliation. We are here now as directed by the votes our people delivered, to work together, to ensure that we address the challenges that they face, and this is what we will do, and this is what I am committed to achieving as the President of South Africa.”

He says this is a historic juncture in the life of the country.

Ramaphosa will be inaugurated on Wednesday, after which he will be expected to announce his executive.

Below is a reminder of the MPs who were part of the last administration’s executive as attention turns to the 7th administration:

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development- Thokozile Didiza

Basic Education- Angie Motshekga

Communications and Digital Technologies- Mondli Gungubele

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – Thembi Nkadimeng

Defence and Military Veterans – Thandi Modise

Employment and Labour – Thulas Nxesi

Forestry Fisheries and Environment – Barbara Creecy

Finance – Enoch Godongwana

Health – Joe Phaahla