AFRICAN NATIONAL Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma was officially elected South Africa’s next president yesterday during parliament’s first sitting since the ruling party won last month’s general election.
Although Mr Zuma’s appointment was inevitable given the ANC’s large majority in parliament from the April 22nd poll, when Chief Justice Pius Langa called for further nominations, the Congress of the People (Cope) also nominated Mvume Dandala.
Of the House of Assembly’s 400 new MPs tasked with electing South Africa’s next president in a secret ballot, 277 voted for Mr Zuma – 13 more votes than the party holds in seats – and 47 for Mr Dandala.
“I accordingly declare that Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is duly elected president of the Republic of South Africa,” said Pius Langa, chief justice of the Constitutional Court, who presided over the proceedings.
The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), which won control of the Western Cape Province and holds 67 seats nationally, abstained.
Addressing parliamentary members after his election Mr Zuma was in a conciliatory mood, saying he wanted to work with the opposition on “matters of national interest” and to “move away from the approach which turns every issue into contestation between parties”. “We need to get away from being over-defensive and not view all criticism from the opposition in a negative light,” he said.
The 67-year-old, who said his administration would prioritise education, health, crime, land reform and job creation, added that he and his new Cabinet meant “business when we talk about faster change”.
“We are determined to leave an indelible mark in these five areas,” he said.
While opposition parties congratulated Mr Zuma on his election, the DA leader warned him that her party would pursue him through the courts to get corruption charges that were withdrawn recently reinstated.
Mr Zuma’s inauguration in Pretoria on Saturday is expected to attract tens of thousands of people, and some 5,000 dignitaries will attend the lavish event.
There remains much debate about who he will name in his new cabinet, which will be announced on Sunday – especially regarding the fate of finance minister Trevor Manuel, whose steady hand on the tiller for the past 12 years has steered country towards economic growth.