South Africa's parliament re-elects Cyril Ramaphosa as country's President

South Africa's parliament has re-elected Cyril Ramaphosa, leader of the African National Congress (ANC) party, as the country's president. He received 283 of votes. 

Angela Thoko Didiza, a member of the African National Congress (ANC) party, has been elected Speaker of South Africa's lower house of Parliament, the National Assembly. In a secret ballot, Didiza received 284 votes. A live broadcast from the auditorium is being carried by SABC.

Annelie Lotriet of the Democratic Alliance (DA) won the vote for Deputy Speaker of Parliament with the support of 273 officials.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Cyril Ramaphosa on his re-election as president of South Africa, noting his contribution to the development of strategic partnership relations between the countries, as reported by the official website of the President of Russia.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Cyril Ramaphosa for his reelection as president of South Africa. 

In the message, Xi pointed out that China and South Africa have been enjoying deep political mutual trust and fruitful pragmatic partnership in various fields, setting a model of cooperation between developing countries and the "Global South".

South Africa held general elections for the National Assembly (lower house of parliament) on 29 May. The ANC won 159 seats in the National Assembly out of 400, the local electoral commission said earlier after counting the votes.

Ramaphosa is expected to announce a new cabinet of ministers in the coming days.

General elections are held in South Africa every five years. The party that wins the election then appoints its leader as the country's president.

Photo: Prensa Latina