Katlego Sekhu
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected as the President of the Republic of South Africa.
Following a full day of proceedings during the first sitting of the National Assembly of the seventh Parliament, Ramaphosa – the President of the African National Congress – was nominated for the position of President.
The proceedings took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in the Western Cape.
Three hundred and thirty-nine ballot papers were issued and counted, with 12 invalid ballots. Ramaphosa received 283 votes against Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, who received 44 votes.
The ANC’s Member of Parliament (MP), Mdumiseni Ntuli, nominated Ramaphosa for the position of President which was seconded by IFP MP, Velenkosini Hlabisa, during the process that was presided over by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
The president’s election came after former Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza was elected as the Speaker of the National Assembly after a vote in the House.
Didiza was declared by Justice Zondo as a Speaker after receiving 284 votes against her contestant, Veronica Mente from the Economic Freedom Fighters, who received 49 votes.
The Democratic Alliance’s Dr Annelie Lotriet was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly for the seventh Parliament. This after she received 273 votes, while fellow nominee, Vuyolwethu Zungula, the African Transformation Movement leader, received 54 votes.
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