President Cyril Ramaphosa will assume office as the president of the country yet again. He was nominated alongside EFF Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema but won with 283 votes. Malema only secured 44 votes.
Addressing the National Assembly, to much ululation, he thanked the house for electing him. "it is with pleasure to serve with nation as president. I accept this is a huge responsibility." He said he would work also with those who did not vote for him. "This is an era of hope and exclusivity," he said adding that the election was highly contested. The president will be inaugurated in a ceremony in Pretoria and this must take place within five days, according to the Constitution.
It was an eventful day as the first gathering lasted past midnight. Earlier in the day former National Assembly House Chairperson and former minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza was appointed Speaker of the National Assembly.
Didiza from the ANC received 284 votes, while her opponent Veronica Mente of the EFF received only 49 votes. Her election as Speaker comes as part of an agreement struck between the ANC and other Government of National Unity partners that Didiza be elected as Speaker and a DA member as her deputy so that they can support Ramaphosa's re-election as President. Didiza expressed gratitude for the votes and promised to run the house with order. "The role of the Speaker is that we conduct the debates of this house within the rules and in the manner that is fair," she said.
Didiza thanked all the parties who are for the GNU for supporting her nomination. "I also commit that I will work with all the parties led by their whips and representatives to make sure we conduct the business of this Parliament in a manner that indeed reflects the will of the people of South Africa," she said. Meanwhile, as per agreement the DA's Dr. Annelie Lotriet has been elected deputy speaker of the National Assembly.
Lotriet has served in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet since she joined the National Assembly in 2009. She is also a Deputy Chairperson of the DA' Federal Council.
