By Abiola Olawale
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday secured his second term as the president of the country.
He was re-elected for a second term after his humbled African National Congress (ANC) was able to strike a deal with the country’s second-biggest party, the Democratic Alliance and other parties in the country.
Ramaphosa who is the leader of the ANC was able to secure a total of 283 votes to defeat his opponent Julius Malema the candidate of the Economic Freedom Fighters who polled 44 in the 400-member house.
The New Diplomat reports that the victory of Ramaphosa came after his party suffered a major blow in the general election which was held on May 29, 2024.
Though the ANC won only 40 per cent of the vote, the party lost its absolute majority in parliament, ending its three decades of dominance.
The ANC only won 159 seats out of the 400 seats in Parliament. The ANC had begun talks on a deal with the opposition parties after falling short of the 201 seats needed to have a majority.
The deal eventually worked out as lawmakers in Cape Town voted overwhelmingly on Friday to put Ramaphosa, 71, back in office for another five years.
Reacting to the victory Ramaphosa said: “I am humbled and honoured that you, as members of the National Assembly, have… decided to elect me to be the President of the Republic of South Africa.”
Speaking also after the victory, the ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said on Friday the broad coalition brings together a majority of the 18 parties that won representation in the 400-seat National Assembly.
These include the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party and other smaller groups.
It should be recalled that South Africa operates a parliamentary system of government.
Following the election for seats in the Parliament, the president of South Africa will be elected by the National Assembly.
Although the president is required to be a member of the National Assembly at the time of election, a person who is elected as president must resign their seat to assume office.
