Niël Terblamché
South Africa’s parliament has re-elected Cyril Ramaphosa as the country’s president after a groundbreaking coalition agreement between the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties.
The coalition deal, reached on Friday, is an important shift in South Africa’s political landscape, reflecting the changing dynamics of South Africa’s democracy.
Namibia’s President Nangolo Mbumba extended congratulations to Ramaphosa.
President Mbumba in his congratulatory message stressed the shared history between Namibia and South Africa, emphasising their common struggle against apartheid and the ongoing commitment to nation-building and development.
“I look forward to a continued fruitful working relationship and strengthening the bilateral relations between our two nations,” Mbumba said.
The new government of national unity, which includes Ramaphosa’s ANC, the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), and several smaller parties, was formed amidst a day of high political drama.
The National Assembly in Cape Town witnessed the swearing-in of an ANC member as speaker, while the deputy speaker’s post was assigned to the DA, representing the new political alliance.
This coalition comes after weeks of speculation following the ANC’s loss of its parliamentary majority for the first time in three decades in last month’s elections.
The ANC secured 40% of the vote, while the DA garnered 22%. The coalition deal was necessary for the ANC to retain power, especially in light of the declining support due to widespread dissatisfaction with corruption, unemployment, and crime.
President Ramaphosa, who succeeded Jacob Zuma as both president and ANC leader in 2018 after a contentious power struggle, expressed optimism about the new coalition.
The secretary-general of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula, described the coalition as a “remarkable step,” enabling Ramaphosa to continue his presidency and lead the nation forward.
The partnership between the ANC and the DA is unprecedented, given their long-standing rivalry.
Under Nelson Mandela’s leadership, the ANC spearheaded the fight against apartheid, leading to South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994.
The DA, often criticised for attempting to protect the economic privileges of the white minority from the apartheid era, denies these allegations and sees the coalition as a chance to bring about significant change.
John Steenhuisen, the leader of the DA, called the coalition a “new chapter in our history,” expressing hope that the alliance would set a new course for the country.
