Media Statement

Over the last few days, following a significant election result, South Africa showed the resilience of our democracy.

The legislatures of all 9 provinces are now established with members sworn in and Speakers and Deputy Speakers elected.

Most significantly the 9 provincial legislatures elected Premiers in a democratic process to lead government in their provinces in the 7th Administration, with the African National Congress (ANC) leading 7 out of 9 provinces. The ANC continues to lead the governments of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, North West, Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape.

In two provinces we have governments of provincial unity, in Gauteng led by the ANC and in KwaZulu-Natal led by the IFP. The DA continues to lead the Western Cape.

Having reached broad consensus on the Government of National Unity, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces elected the leadership of Parliament.

The ANC congratulates Comrade Thoko Didiza on her election as Speaker of the National Assembly, Comrade Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane as Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces and Dr Annelie Lotriet as the Deputy Speaker. We are confident that they will perform their duties capably and diligently.

Comrade Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected the President of the Republic of South Africa with 83% support from members of the National Assembly.

This overwhelming support for President Ramaphosa represents a vote of confidence in the resilience and stability of our democracy.

The ANC congratulates Comrade Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa on his election as President of the Republic. His election reflects the tremendous confidence of South Africans across society in his leadership and in his ability to lead the country into a new era.

The results of yesterday’s elections of leadership for two critical arms of state (legislatures and executive) affirms the ANC’s initiative to advocate for the coming together in a Government of National Unity in the interests of all South Africa.

The parties working together to take forward an inclusive Government of National Unity, have embraced a ‘Statement of Intent of the 2024 Government of National Unity’, which outlines foundational principles, a basic minimum programme of priorities, and modalities of the GNU. Parties continue to make inputs into the GNU Statement of Intent, in order to reflect the broad consensus that should characterise its formation and modalities

The Statement of Intent categorically places the needs of the South African people first, as expressed in the proposed Minimum Programme for the 7th administration, including the focus on economic inclusion, industrialisation, transformation and job creation, protection of workers’ and women’s rights, improving and extending basic services and tackling the high cost of living, investing in people through education, skills and health; the fight against corruption and crime, and progressive foreign policy that reflects our national values and interests.

Above all, parties to the GNU agrees that as we enter the next decade of freedom, we must work together and move decisively to tackle the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality, as a precondition for a non-racial, non-sexist, united, democratic and prosperous South Africa.

The parties have made a commitment to an all-inclusive National Dialogue process with parties, civil society, labour, business and other sectors to discuss critical challenges facing the nation. The National Dialogue process

will seek to develop a national social compact that enables the country to meet the overarching aspirations of the National Development Plan, to eliminate poverty and significantly reduce inequality towards 2030.

The ANC in the coming days will continue engagements with all parties as we move towards the steps to form the government of national unity. As has already been announced, the President will be inaugurated on 19 June 2024 and there-after will announce an inclusive GNU Cabinet.

All these positive developments of the past two days have brought huge relief and a renewed sense of hope across the length and breadth of our beloved country, South Africa. We have demonstrated that we are ready to set aside our political differences, find innovative ways to work together in the interest of our nation and our people as a whole.

We will do more and better together.