South Africa’ acting President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the elected, substantive president of Parliament on Thursday has pledged to work across party lines, cooperate with lawmakers and serve the people.
He succeeded former President Jacob Zuma who on Wednesday night announced his resignation.
The country’s constitution confers the power to appoint and remove the President of the Republic of South Africa on the National Assembly.
Ramaphosa became acting state president after Wednesday night’s vacancy in the presidency, in accordance with the supreme law of the country.
The parliament on Thursday morning declared Ramaphosa as President.
He thanked the lawmakers, Chief Justice, and political parties for giving him the privilege to serve the nation.
He said he would continue to interact with parliament and continuously brief them on the programmes and activities of the government and also continue to work with leaders of all political parties adding that he will address the issue of corruption, and patriotism.
Meanwhile South Africa’s far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leader Julius Malema has said his party will like an early election for a new president to be elected for the country saying that his party would not take part in the election of new president so as not to legitimise a candidate put forward by the ruling ANC.
Acting president Cyril Ramaphosa is due to be confirmed as Jacob Zuma’s permanent successor in a parliamentary vote Thursday.