Ramaphosa Re-elected as South African President in Historic Coalition Deal.
By Caroline Ameh
In a landmark political development, Cyril Ramaphosa has secured re-election as President of South Africa following a coalition agreement reached between his African National Congress (ANC) party and opposition factions, the Democratic Alliance (DA).
The announcement came during a late-night session of the National Assembly at the Cape Town International Convention Center on June 14, 2024.
The coalition government, formed after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in three decades during recent elections, marks a significant departure from South Africa’s political norms. Ramaphosa’s ANC garnered 40% of the vote, while the DA followed with 22%, prompting weeks of speculation about potential alliances.
Addressing the assembly after his confirmation, Ramaphosa hailed the coalition as a pivotal moment for the country, emphasizing the mandate from voters to unite and collaborate for the nation’s welfare. He underscored the challenges facing South Africa, including corruption, unemployment, and crime, which have steadily eroded support for the ANC in recent years.
“This coalition represents a new chapter in our nation’s history,” said Ramaphosa, who took over the presidency amid a power struggle in 2018 following Jacob Zuma’s resignation. He now faces the task of allocating cabinet positions, which will include members of the DA, a move unprecedented in South African politics.
The coalition agreement, which also involves smaller parties, excludes breakaway factions from the ANC, underscoring ongoing divisions within the ruling party. Opinion polls indicate widespread public desire for the coalition to succeed in delivering much-needed economic improvements.
While hailed as a step towards national unity, the coalition has not been without controversy. Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), criticized the alliance, accusing it of consolidating economic power in favor of the white minority and perpetuating inequalities stemming from apartheid.
The DA, historically positioned as a centrist-right party, has faced accusations of protecting economic privileges accrued by South Africa’s white minority during apartheid. However, DA leader John Steenhuisen described the coalition agreement as a historic moment for the country, emphasizing its potential to address longstanding challenges.
The National Assembly, in its recent session, also elected ANC and DA representatives to key parliamentary roles, further solidifying the coalition’s influence in South Africa’s political landscape.
Ramaphosa, reflecting on the country’s political journey since Nelson Mandela’s presidency in 1994, reiterated the coalition’s commitment to national reconciliation and progress.
“We have been here before, in 1994, when we sought to unite our country and effect reconciliation—and we are here now,” Ramaphosa remarked, encapsulating the historical significance of the moment and the aspirations of the coalition government moving forward.
