Ramaphosa, who is also the ANC’s leader, was elected without contest and will be officially inaugurated on Saturday.
South African legislators elected Cyril Ramaphosapresident on Wednesday and he promised to create jobs and work for the interests of all citizens, not just members of the majority African National Congress (ANC).
The ANC won South Africa’s May 8 general election, enabling the party to pick the country’s president, but its share of the vote fell to a post-apartheid low – reflecting anger at corruption and cronyism under Ramaphosa’s predecessor Jacob Zuma.
Many voters were also dismayed at the racial inequality that remains entrenched a generation since the former liberation movement took power.
“Only one candidate has been nominated. I accordingly declare the honourable Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa duly elected president of the Republic of South Africa,” Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said.
Ramaphosa, who is also the leader of the ANC, was elected without contest and will be officially inaugurated on Saturday.
The election of the former trade union boss turned businessman was greeted by applause from a packed public gallery and opposition benches, including the far-left Economic Freedom Front, which had a fractious relationship with Zuma.
“I will be a president for all South Africans and not just a president for the African National Congress,” Ramaphosa said. “We have been given this responsibility on an overriding basis to revive our economy, to create jobs.”
