South Africa’s President Ramaphosa is reelected for second term after a dramatic late coalition deal

By GERALD IMRAY and MOGOMOTSI MAGOME
Associated Press

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been reelected by lawmakers for a second term after his African National Congress party struck a dramatic late coalition deal with the main opposition and other parties. Ramaphosa won convincingly in a vote late Friday night against a surprise candidate who was also nominated in Parliament — Julius Malema, the leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters. The 71-year-old Ramaphosa secured a second term with the help of lawmakers from the second biggest Democratic Alliance party and others after the ANC lost its 30-year parliamentary majority in a landmark election two weeks ago.