By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) has welcomed the re-election of Cyril Ramaphosa as President of South Africa and the head of state.
Ramaphosa was re-elected at the first sitting of the National Assembly at the Cape Town Convention Centre on Friday evening.
“I am humbled and honoured that you, as members of the National Assembly, have… decided to elect me to be the President of the Republic of South Africa”, Ramaphosa said in his acceptance speech.
Last month’s election marked a historic turning point for South Africa, ending three decades of dominance by the African National Congress (ANC) of the late Nelson Mandela.
The party that led the anti-apartheid struggle won only 40 percent of the vote and, for the first time, lost its absolute majority in parliament.
Ramaphosa’s re-election came after some two weeks of negotiations with various political parties to form a government of national unity.
He was re-elected by fellow MPs with 283 votes in a secret ballot. Ramaphosa saw off a last-minute challenge by Julius Malema, the firebrand leader of the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), whose candidacy gained 44 votes.
Ramaphosa will be sworn in next week in Pretoria and then unveil his new cabinet.
In a statement, BUSA CEO Cas Coovadia, also welcomed the election of Thoko Didiza and Annelie Lotriet as the speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly.
Didiza, was nominated by the party’s outgoing chief whip, Pemmy Majodina.
She came up against the EFF’s national chairperson Veronica Mente, who was nominated by ATM President Vuyolwethu Zungula, and seconded by UDM President Bantu Holomisa.
Coovadia says the business community and the rest of the country were eagerly awaiting the elections, which marks the beginning of the Government of National Unity.
“The dignified manner in which the election of the President and Presiding Officers was conducted is a testament to the maturity of our democracy.
“We are eager to collaborate with President Ramaphosa and his government and await the appointment of Cabinet members. Similarly, as the representative of organised business, we are ready to engage with the National Assembly and its Presiding Officers as they carry out their legislative duties.
“As the business community, we firmly believe in the potential of this country and are fully committed to playing our part in its development. We are convinced that through strategic partnerships and targeted interventions, we can make a substantial and positive impact on our nation and foster a sense of hope for all South Africans.”