S.Africa's Ramaphosa to announce coalition cabinet
Published: 05:06 PM,Jun 15,2024 | EDITED : 09:06 PM,Jun 15,2024
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks after being re-elected as president of South Africa, at the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC). — Reuters
JOHANNESBURG: 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 on Saturday. The African National Congress (ANC) said Ramaphosa, who will lead what it calls a government of national unity (GNU), will announce an 'inclusive GNU cabinet' 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 congratulated on Saturday his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, on his re-election, after the African National Congress cobbled together an unprecedented coalition government.
'I look forward to the United States and South Africa continuing our work together, to expand economic opportunity, invest in clean energy solutions, and demonstrate that democracy delivers,' Biden said in a statement.
South Africa's BRICS allies Russia and China on Saturday welcomed Ramaphosa's re-election with President Xi Jinping sending him a congratulatory note.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Ramaphosa, hailing South Africa's 'joint efforts to restore just peace in Ukraine.'
'With your leadership and experience, South Africa is in good hands' the EU Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X.
Neighbouring Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Ramaphosa's second mandate was 'ample testimony of the great confidence and trust' South Africans had in him.
The election marked a historic turning point for South Africa, ending three decades of dominance by the ANC.
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 GNU includes the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party and other smaller groups.
On Friday Chief Justice Raymond Zondo had 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, South Africans continued to express scepticism about the unprecedented deal, particularly the union of the long-term political foes the ANC and the DA who have been the country's longest official opposition. — AFP
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 congratulated on Saturday his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, on his re-election, after the African National Congress cobbled together an unprecedented coalition government.
'I look forward to the United States and South Africa continuing our work together, to expand economic opportunity, invest in clean energy solutions, and demonstrate that democracy delivers,' Biden said in a statement.
South Africa's BRICS allies Russia and China on Saturday welcomed Ramaphosa's re-election with President Xi Jinping sending him a congratulatory note.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Ramaphosa, hailing South Africa's 'joint efforts to restore just peace in Ukraine.'
'With your leadership and experience, South Africa is in good hands' the EU Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X.
Neighbouring Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Ramaphosa's second mandate was 'ample testimony of the great confidence and trust' South Africans had in him.
The election marked a historic turning point for South Africa, ending three decades of dominance by the ANC.
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 GNU includes the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party and other smaller groups.
On Friday Chief Justice Raymond Zondo had 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, South Africans continued to express scepticism about the unprecedented deal, particularly the union of the long-term political foes the ANC and the DA who have been the country's longest official opposition. — AFP