South Africa governing alliance emerges as new parliament convenes

14/6/2024 19:04

        South Africa's newly elected parliament convened on Friday to choose the country's next president with the public still in the dark about which parties will join the African National Congress in government and the policies they will pursue.
        
        The ANC, which has been in power since the 1994 elections that marked the end of apartheid, lost its majority for the first time in a May 29 vote and has been trying to put together a broad-based government of national unity.
        
        President Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC leader, is likely to win a new term in office as the party has the largest number of seats, but he may have to make significant policy concessions to political adversaries.
        
        Chief Justice Raymond Zondo formally opened the new session of parliament at 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT) and the process of swearing in lawmakers began. The lawmakers - meeting in a Cape Town convention centre as the parliament complex was damaged by fire in 2022 - were due later to elect the parliamentary speaker, the deputy speaker and the country's president.
        
        As of Thursday night, the ANC said other parties including the pro-business Democratic Alliance, its largest rival, had agreed to take part but a precise deal had yet to be nailed down.