Buffeted by Trump, South Africa’s Ramaphosa praised for keeping his cool; Trump’s image from DRC, not South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa Reuters Facing a barrage of debunked claims from US President Donald Trump that white people were being persecuted in his country, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa remained composed, pushed back politely and even tried to joke with Trump. Ramaphosa may have drawn on his experience as the African National Congress’s lead negotiator […]
“No thanks”, white South Africans turn down Trump’s immigration offer
Johannesburg, South Africa Reuters US President Donald Trump’s offer to rehouse white South Africans as refugees fleeing persecution may not spur quite the rush he anticipates, as even right-wing white lobby groups want to “tackle the injustices” of Black majority rule on home soil. Trump on Friday signed an executive order to cut US aid […]
South Africa leader pledges to revive economy, include the poor
Cape Town, South Africa Reuters President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged on Thursday to revive South Africa’s flagging economy and extend prosperity to the many left out of it, by resuscitating factories and farms, building roads and seizing the opportunities presented by green energy. In his first policy speech to a new parliament since the African National […]
South Africa’s Ramaphosa announces cabinet that includes ex-opposition leader
Johannesburg, South Africa Reuters South African President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed former opposition leader John Steenhuisen as minister of agriculture on Sunday, bringing the Democratic Alliance and other parties into his new coalition cabinet. Ramaphosa’s African National Congress was forced to join forces with rival parties to stay in power after losing its majority for the […]
South Africa’s Ramaphosa vows to fight inequality as power-sharing begins
Pretoria, South Africa Reuters A weakened South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged on Wednesday that his new multi-party government would work to improve basic living conditions for all citizens as he was sworn in for a second term in office. Ramaphosa’s African National Congress will be sharing power with five other parties after it was […]
Former South African leader Zuma’s party says it will join opposition in parliament
Johannesburg, South Africa Reuters South Africa’s uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party will join an alliance of smaller opposition parties in parliament in a bid to take on the African National Congress and Democratic Alliance-led coalition government, it said on Sunday. The ANC and its largest rival, the white-led, pro-business Democratic Alliance, agreed on Friday to […]
South Africa’s Ramaphosa re-elected as ANC strikes coalition deal
Cape Town, South Africa Reuters The African National Congress and its largest rival, the white-led, pro-business Democratic Alliance, agreed on Friday to work together in South Africa’s new government of national unity, a step change after 30 years of ANC rule. Once unthinkable, the accord allowed President Cyril Ramaphosa to win a second in term […]
South Africa’s ANC in 11th hour talks over unity government as deadline nears
Cape Town, South Africa Reuters South Africa’s African National Congress said late on Thursday that several other parties had agreed to join it in a unity government but the details were not yet finalised, the night before the newly-elected parliament was due to sit. The former liberation movement has been holding hurried talks with rivals […]
South Africa’s ANC will seek to form government of national unity
Johannesburg, South Africa Reuters South Africa’s African National Congress will invite other political parties to form a national unity government, its leader President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday, after it lost its majority for the first time in the democratic era. The former liberation movement once led by Nelson Mandela has run South Africa since […]
Essay: In South Africa, ANC’s lost majority ushers in a new era of coalition politics
STEPHAN CHAN, in an article first published on The Conversation, looks at the shift in South Africa’s political landscape in the wake of the general election…