Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected as President of the Republic of South Africa,
and he will lead the seventh democratic administration.After a full day of proceedings during the first sitting of the National Assembly of
the seventh Parliament, Ramaphosa , President of the African National
Congress, was on Friday evening nominated for the position of President. The sitting took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in
the Western Cape.Three hundred and thirty-nine ballot papers were issued and counted, with 12 invalid
ballots. Ramaphosa received 283 votes against Economic Freedom Fighters leader
Julius Malema who received 44 votes.African National Congress Member of Parliament (MP), Mdumiseni Ntuli, nominated
Ramaphosa for the position of President, and was seconded by Inkatha Freedom
Party (IFP) leader and MP, Velenkosini Hlabisa, during a process that was
presided over by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.The President’s election came after former Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural
Development Minister, Thoko Didiza was elected as the Speaker of the National
Assembly after a vote in the House.READ | Didiza appointed new National Assembly SpeakerDidiza was declared by Justice Zondo as a Speaker after receiving 284 votes against
her contestant, Veronica Mente from the Economic Freedom Fighters, who received
49 votes.The Democratic Alliance’s Dr Annelie Lotriet was elected as the Deputy Speaker of
the National Assembly for the seventh Parliament. This after she received 273
votes, while fellow nominee, Vuyolwethu Zungula, the African Transformation
Movement leader, received 54 votes.The first sitting of the National Assembly took place after the General Election on 29
May. The day’s proceedings started with the swearing in of Members of
Parliament, who either took an oath or affirmation that enjoins them to be
faithful to the Republic of South Africa, and to obey, respect and uphold the
Constitution and all other laws of the Republic.South Africa’s recent National and Provincial Elections were the most contested and
most compelling since the dawn of democracy in 1994. As in the post-1994
election period, President-elect Ramaphosa is expected to lead a Government of
National Unity into the future.This will be his second term as the leader of South Africa’s government.He is expected to be inaugurated next Wednesday, 19 June. ( source SA News, edited)Messages of congratulationsAfter
Justice Zondo declared the re-election of President Ramaphosa, 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,” Steenhuisen said.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. “We are going to ensure that this Parliament is functional,” Malema said.Inkatha Freedom Party leader, Velenkosini Hlabisa, said this is the beginning of a new
era. “The IFP stands ready to serve in the government of South Africa. We enter the
government of national unity with an open mind and eyes wide open.”READ | Date set for Presidential inaugurationRamaphosa was sworn in as the President of South Africa for the first time on 15 February
2018 and again on 22 May 2019 after the 2019 elections.The early years The President was born on 17 November 1952 in Johannesburg. His family was moved
from Western Native Township to Soweto in 1962, where he attended Tshilidzi
Primary School. He completed high school at Mphaphuli High School in Sibasa, Venda in 1971.Ramaphosa began his studies at the University of the North in 1972, where he became
involved in student politics, joining the South African Student Organisation
(SASO) and the Black People’s Convention (BPC).The President holds a law degree from the University of South Africa, and has
received several honorary doctorates from local and international universities.
He received the Olof Palme prize in Stockholm in 1987 and was awarded the National
Order of the Baobab in Silver in 2009 for his contribution to the multiparty
negotiations and for chairing the Constitutional Assembly.Prior to becoming the President of South Africa, Ramaphosa served as the Deputy
President since 2012. – SAnews.gov.za
