In a momentous ceremony held in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, the esteemed leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), took the solemn oath of office as the nation’s president for the next five years.
At the age of 71, Mr. Ramaphosa’s re-election as the South African president by the National Assembly on June 14 was resoundingly confirmed with an overwhelming majority of 283 votes, surpassing his competitor, Julius Malema from the Economic Freedom Fighters, who garnered 44 votes.
In accordance with the provisions outlined in the South African Constitution, once elected as president by the esteemed National Assembly, the president-elect must assume the responsibilities of office within a span of five days.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa raised his hand as he was sworn in as a member of Parliament ahead of an expected vote by lawmakers to decide if he is reelected as leader of the country in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, June 14, 2024.
Mr. Ramaphosa dutifully adhered to this constitutional imperative, assuming the mantle of leadership with a sense of purpose and dedication.
In the recent general elections held on May 29, the ANC secured an impressive 159 out of the 400 seats in the National Assembly, reaffirming its continued prominence on the political landscape.
However, it is noteworthy that this marks the first occasion where the ANC has fallen short of the 50 percent threshold required to maintain its long-standing outright majority in the lower house of parliament.
This significant development heralds a new era of political dynamics and underscores the evolving nature of South Africa’s democratic landscape.
