African National Congress (ANC) president Cyril Ramaphosa has been elected President of South Africa in the first sitting of the sixth democratically-elected Parliament.
The ANC’s Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina nominated Ramaphosa and it was seconded by David Ntombela. The process was presided over by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.
Ramaphosa will be sworn in on Saturday and name a Deputy President and cabinet at the weekend.
Meanwhile, DA leader Mmusi Maimane has congratulated Cyril Ramaphosa on his election as President of the country with a plea to make sure those who are implicated and found guilty of corruption end up in prison.
Maimane says the DA will be behind Ramaphosa in tackling corruption but also to hold him to account.
“To Ntate Cyril Ramaphosa, I want to say from our party and from me personally, I wish you great success and I wish to say to you that when the decisions that you take are for the interests of our nation and for the people of this country. We will be the first ones to support you.”
EFF leader Julius Malema has also congratulated Ramaphosa with a caution to heed the advice and concerns of other political leaders.
Malema says the EFF will continue to ensure that Ramaphosa deals with corruption and factionalism.
“We hope that you will be a President of a corrupt free government and you will not subject yourself to views of factionalism. Listen to the collective wisdom of people you are elected with not white monopoly capital – it will not be here to defend you. Once you listen to white monopoly capital you must know that you are likely not to finish your term. All the best President! We are here. We are watching you and we’ll continue to engage you openly not in secret.”
Under South Africa’s 1996 Constitution, electors vote for a party, and the party selects individuals who go to the National Assembly, which then chooses the head of state.
Ramaphosa, 66, is a trade unionist who played a prominent part in the struggle against white minority rule before becoming a successful businessman after the end of apartheid.
He will be serving his first full five-year term since taking over last year from President Jacob Zuma who was forced out over a series of corruption scandals.
Ramaphosa’s first test as he starts his new term will be his choice of a cabinet, a task beset by rival factions within the ANC. – Additional reporting AFP
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