Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected as President of South Africa for a second term after receiving 283 votes in Parliament, significantly outpacing his closest competitor, Julius Malema from the Radical Left Party, who received 44 votes. Ramaphosa is slated to be inaugurated next Wednesday in Pretoria. Following his electoral victory, Ramaphosa began the formation of a new coalition government comprising the majority African National Congress (ANC) and several opposition parties to establish a centrist government.
The coalition pact includes the ANC, which holds 159 out of 400 seats, the Liberal Democratic Alliance (DA) with 87 seats, and the nationalist Zulu Inkatha Party holding 17 seats. This historic coalition emerged after ANC lost its absolute majority for the first time in three decades, marking a significant shift in South Africa's political landscape. The new coalition government aims to work collaboratively across political divides.
In his address, DA leader John Steenhuisen described the coalition as a 'historic day' and 'the beginning of a new chapter of construction and cooperation.' The ANC echoed this sentiment, expressing their readiness to put aside political differences for the nation's good. This coalition aims to form an inclusive national unity government involving various small parties besides the DA and the Zulu Inkhata Party.
The coalition agreement outlines several major priorities, including rapid economic growth, job creation, reducing poverty, lowering the high cost of living, and building an efficient administration based on merit. The new government also plans to strengthen public agencies to combat crime, corruption, and gender violence, while investing in better education, development tools, and quality public health services. These priorities reflect the DA's electoral platform and shared goals within the coalition.
The new coalition excludes the populist uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) led by former President Jacob Zuma and the radical left group Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who came third and fourth in the elections, respectively. Zuma's MK was excluded due to associations with corruption, while Malema's EFF refused to join a government with liberal elements. This exclusion reflects the ongoing tensions within South Africa's political spectrum.
Congratulatory messages have poured in from international leaders following Ramaphosa's re-election. US President Joe Biden, China's President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have all expressed their support and optimism for Ramaphosa's presidency. Regional leaders, including Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, recognized the confidence the South African people have in their leader.
- The coalition government signed by the ANC and DA this Friday lays down the structure for a collaborative political environment in South Africa after years of a dominant ANC rule. The formation of this coalition came after intense two-week negotiations following the ANC’s loss of its absolute majority in the latest elections. Despite different ideological standpoints, the ANC and DA are working towards mutual goals like economic reform and job creation.
- The pact stipulates that the presidency of Parliament will be handed to Thoko Didiza (ANC), while the vice-presidency will be awarded to a DA candidate. The nine-page coalition document highlights the strategies for resolving potential disputes within the new government. Ramaphosa has until his inauguration next Wednesday to finalize the Executive members through consensus among the coalition parties.
- The exclusion of Zuma’s MK, which received notable support in the recent elections, signifies strategic political maneuvering by the DA and the moderate wing of the ANC. The controversy surrounding Zuma’s corrupt ties played a crucial role in this decision. Likewise, Malema's EFF declined involvement, criticizing the inclusion of liberals as a regression from the achievements since the end of apartheid.
- This new coalition is pivotal as it reflects a broader objective to stabilize and transform South Africa’s political and economic landscape through unity. Analysts predict that this partnership might compel the ANC to adopt more centrist policies, given the DA’s substantial influence in the coalition and its contrasting policy approaches.
