South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, re-elected for a second term after his weakened ANC lost its outright majority, will announce an “inclusive” Cabinet, the ANC said.
SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa, re-elected for a second term after his weakened ANC lost its outright majority, will announce an “inclusive” cabinet, the party said.
This comes on the back of the DA confirming the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU).
Ramaphosa will lead what the ANC calls a GNU after the May 29 general election produced no outright winner.
Congratulatory messages continued to pour in for the leader who was re-elected as president on Friday and will be inaugurated on June 19.
US President Joe Biden said he looked forward to the two countries “continuing our work together”.
The African Union (AU) chairperson Moussa Faki said he looked “forward to continuing to work with you on our shared Continental agenda to which you have been a strong champion”.
Namibia’s president Nangolo Mbumba congratulated his “dear brother” Ramaphosa. He was confident he would continue to lead the country to “greater heights”, he added.
The election marked a historic turning point for South Africa, ending three decades of dominance by the ANC of the late Nelson Mandela.
The humbled ANC said it was “ready to set aside our political differences, find innovative ways to work together in the interest of our nation”.
The national unity government includes the centre-right DA, the Zulu nationalist IFP and other smaller groups.
On Friday, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo opened the Parliament’s first sitting, swearing in MPs in batches and presiding over the election of the speaker, who was from the ANC, and a deputy speaker who hailed from the DA.
However, many South Africans continued to express scepticism about the unprecedented deal, particularly the union of the ANC and the DA, until now long-term political foes. The DA has been the country’s longest official opposition.
– AFP