South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected for a second term by lawmakers following a coalition agreement between his African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Ramaphosa secured 283 votes against leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema, who secured 44 votes.
Earlier, the DA, which garnered almost 22% of the vote, agreed to back Ramaphosa in exchange for key parliamentary positions, marking the first time the ANC has lost its parliamentary majority since the end of apartheid, with its vote share dropping to 40.2%.
This coalition, supported by large businesses and international investors, aims to implement policies favouring renewable energy and a merit-based civil service.
Additionally, smaller parties like the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Patriotic Alliance have joined the government.
The ANC’s decline in support is attributed to defections to the new uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which received 14.6% of the vote.
Meanwhile, the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) rejected the coalition, maintaining their opposition to the DA.
Ramaphosa’s inclusive approach seeks to stabilise governance amid ongoing negotiations over policies and cabinet positions.