The president of south Africa Cyril Ramaposa has been re-elected for the second time in office after the African National Congress (ANC) cobbled together at an unprecedented coalition government.
Lawmakers in Cape Town voted overwhelmingly to put Ramaphosa, 71, back in office for another five years after the May 29 general election that produced no outright winner.
“I am humbled and honoured that you, as members of the National Assembly, have decided to elect me to be the President of the Republic of South Africa,” Ramaphosa said in his acceptance speech.
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Last month’s election marked a historic turning point for South Africa, ending three decades of dominance by the African National Congress of the late Nelson Mandela.
The party that led the anti-apartheid struggle won only 40 percent of the vote and, for the first time, lost its absolute majority in parliament.
It has now struck a deal to form what it calls a government of national unity.
“This is a historic juncture in the life of our country, which requires that we must work and act together,” Ramaphosa said.
The ANC, which came to power in 1994 after waging a decades-long battle against apartheid, lost its majority for the first time in last month’s election and has spent two weeks locked in intensive behind-the-scenes talks with other parties.
The ANC’s Thoko Didiza was elected as Speaker in the signed power-sharing deal, while the DA’s Annelie Lotriet elected as deputy speaker.
Both are women and Lotriet is from South Africa’s white minority.
Earlier, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo had opened the parliament’s first sitting, swearing in MPs in batches ahead of votes on the election of a speaker and deputy speaker.