South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected as head of state by parliamentary vote on Friday.
The 71-year-old defeated former African National Congress youth leader Julius Malema in the parliamentary ballot.
His re-election follows the recent parliamentary elections which saw the ruling African National Congress’s worst electoral showing since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Justice Raymond Zondo, who presided over the voting session confirmed Mr. Ramaphosa’s re-election after he polled 283 votes.
His challenger Julius Malema,of the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party garnered 44 votes.
400 deputies make up the South African parliament.
Late on Thursday ANC general secretary Fikle Mbalula announced a “breakthrough” agreement with several other political parties for the formation of a government of national unity (GNU).
The ruling party has over the past two weeks been negotiating with political opponents over a power-sharing deal.
WN/as/APA