Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected to serve a second term as President

The National Assembly has elected Cyril Ramaphosa as the President-elect of South Africa. He has been re-elected to serve a second term as President. Ramaphosa received 283 votes, defeating EFF leader, Julius Malema, who received 44 votes.

The election was conducted by the National Assembly during its first sitting of the 7th Parliament at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday.

 

 

Courtesy: Parliament of RSA

In his first address to the nation, the 71-year-old President-elect Cyril Ramaphosa thanked the newly sworn-in MPs who voted for him for their trust, saying: "I intend to work with all members and indeed to work together with even those who did not vote for me."

Various political parties took turns in congratulating him.

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said the day is a historic day for the country, and the start for a new chapter of building, cooperation, and putting the country’s interests and future first.

“In these elections, the voters chose not to give any party its own majority, and in doing so, they have told us that they want us to work together to build a prosperous non-racial, united South Africa, with a great economy that works for everybody. We must now rise to the occasion and rise to the call of South Africa.

EFF leader Julius Malema also congratulated the President, saying his party accepts the results and the voice of people of South Africa expressed during the elections.

Ramaphosa is expected to be inaugurated on Wednesday.

Done: by Stephanie Van Rayen