South Africa Re-elects Ramaphosa, but Coalition Is Fragile – The New York Times

South Africa’s Election
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A new government led by the African National Congress gave Cyril Ramaphosa another term as president, though he faces challenges in Parliament.
By John Eligon and Lynsey Chutel
Reporting from Cape Town and Johannesburg
A fragile coalition of lawmakers in South Africa elected Cyril Ramaphosa for a second term as president on Friday, marking a new era of political uncertainty in one of the continent’s most stable democracies.
After suffering a sharp decline in support in last month’s national election, Mr. Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress, undertook feverish negotiations to form a governing coalition with rivals, inking a deal only after Friday’s parliamentary session had begun.
The coalition deal includes the second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance — long a bitter rival of the A.N.C. — and the fifth-largest one, the Inkatha Freedom Party. Some of the 15 other parties in Parliament are also expected to join the coalition, which the A.N.C. is calling a “government of national unity.”
Many South Africans hope that this new coalition will force the parties to work together to provide better outcomes in a country with economic stagnation, high unemployment and entrenched poverty.
Addressing lawmakers after a 14-hour session, Mr. Ramaphosa said the fact that opposing parties decided to come together to elect him “has given a new birth, a new era to our country.”
“I do sincerely believe that this is an era of hope and is also an era of inclusivity,” he added.
The Democratic Alliance — which won nearly 22 percent of the vote — hailed the coalition agreement as a fresh start. “From today, the D.A. will co-govern the Republic of South Africa in a spirit of unity and collaboration,” said John Steenhuisen, the party’s leader.
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