President Ramaphosa set to remain in office
DA leader John Steenhuisen has confirmed that ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa will be the presidential candidate for the government of national unity.
In a media briefing on Friday, Steenhuisen said the challenges facing the country remain serious, highlighting high unemployment, crime, infrastructure decline, and endemic corruption.
"The DA has reached agreement on the statement of intent for the formation of a government of national unity," he said, adding that the DA and IFP would back the coalition.
"We will be supporting President Cyril Ramaphosa in his election for the president of the Republic of South Africa,” Steenhuisen said during a pause in the opening session of South Africa's seventh parliament since the advent of post-apartheid democracy in 1994.
Earlier, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo had opened the first sitting, swearing in MPs in batches ahead of planned votes on the election of a speaker, deputy speaker and the president.
Ramaphosa, the fifth ANC president in 30 years, had called for a government of national unity after his party lost its absolute majority in last month's general election.
ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula anticipated on Thursday that the government would "gravitate to the centre" -- backed by the DA, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and other smaller groups.
"We have reached a breakthrough on the common agreement that we need to work together," Mbalula told a news conference in Cape Town.
Ramaphosa is now expected to win the secret ballot of MPs to confirm his re-election. If that happens, he will be sworn in next week in Pretoria.
ALSO READ:
