Ramaphosa re-elected president of South African for second term

Amman: South Africa's parliament Friday re-elected President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second term in power after his African National Congress (ANC) party forged a coalition government with opposition parties. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly for Ramaphosa, 71, to stay in office for another five years after no outright winner emerged from the May 29 general election. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said the national unity government brings together a majority of the 18 parties that won representation in the 400-seat National Assembly. Ramaphosa was re-elected by MPs with 283 votes in a secret ballot after winning with a wide margin against leader of the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Julius Malema, who gained 44 votes. In his victory speech, Ramaphosa hailed the new coalition, calling it "a historic juncture in the life of our country, which requires that we must work and act together. Source: Jordan News Agency