US president Joe Biden, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and others have congratulated Cyril Ramaphosa on his re-election as president of South Africa.
The ANC leader was elected during the first sitting of the National Assembly at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on Friday, 14 June.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa raises his hand as he is sworn is 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. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Ramaphosa was nominated alongside the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema for the position, he received 283 votes, while Malema received 44. A total of 12 votes were spoiled.
His re-election follows in the footsteps of Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, who were also two-term presidents. However, Mbeki and Zuma did not complete their terms as both were recalled before completing their tenures.
In his victory speech, the president-elect thanked MPs and accepted the challenge of the next five years.
“I am humbled and honoured that members of the National Assembly have, through their votes, decided to elect me to be president of the Republic of South Africa. Thank you very much.
“It is with pleasure that I accept. It will be a privilege and pleasure to serve this great nation in the position of president,” said Ramaphosa.
