SOUTH AFRICAN President Cyril Ramaphosa opened a new parliamentary term on Thursday, nearly two months after the general election led to the formation of a multi-party coalition.

President Ramaphosa’s speech to lawmakers at the City Hall in Cape Town — a replacement venue after a fire gutted the parliament building two years ago — marked the official start of business for the new coalition.

It brings at least 10 parties together to govern South Africa after 30 years of majority rule by the African National Congress ended in May’s vote.

Mr Ramaphosa said that despite the political differences within the government, it was united on tackling South Africa’s three biggest problems: an unemployment crisis, crippling poverty and inequality.

He said: “Despite the achievements of 30 years of democracy millions of South Africans remain poor, unemployed and they live in a highly unequal society.

“The circumstances of South Africa today require that we act together.” 

Mr Ramaphosa’s address began what South Africa calls “the seventh administration” — just the seventh government to be formed since the people overthrew the racist system of apartheid in 1994 and all races were allowed to vote.

The speech was largely a call for unity across the political divide and was generally met by applause by lawmakers.

Lawmakers from South Africa’s new official opposition, the newly founded MK Party led by Jacob Zuma, a former South African president and ANC leader, were subdued in their first sitting in parliament opposite Ramaphosa and the new government.

It was a similar approach from the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters, who have struck an opposition alliance with MK. 

Mr Zuma wasn’t present after he was disqualified from standing as a member of Parliament because of a criminal conviction and prison sentence in 2021 for contempt of court.