Members of South Africa's Government of National Unity, formed on June 30, took the oath of office and assumed their positions, local media reported in an online broadcast.
At the International Conference Centre in Cape Town, 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers, along with South Africa's Vice President Paul Mashatile, who was reappointed to this position by the head of state, took the oath. The ceremony was presided over by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa created the 11-party Government of National Unity on Sunday. It was created after the May 29 general elections, in which no party won a majority in the lower house of parliament and a mandate to rule alone.
The South African Constitution does not name a prime minister and gives the president the power to establish and lead the government, which needs a parliamentary majority.
The intense deliberations over the formation of the cabinet lasted more than two weeks. The African National Congress (ANC), led by Ramaphosa, emerged as the most powerful force in the new administration. They dominate vital areas such as the security bloc, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and major economic ministries, with 20 ministerial positions.
The erstwhile opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), which represents South Africa's white minority, has six cabinet posts, making it the second most powerful party in the new administration. The Inkatha Freedom Party, which has a large presence in KwaZulu-Natal province, has two ministerial seats. In addition, one minister represents each of the other four parties.
The ANC has 33 deputy ministers, the DA has six, and the remaining posts are shared by three smaller parties.
Notably, two important legislative parties— uMkhonto weSizwe Party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, and Julius Malema's "Economic Freedom Fighters"—did not join the Government of National Unity. Both parties have proclaimed their determination to fight the government within and outside of parliament.
The erstwhile opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), which represents South Africa's white minority, has six cabinet posts, making it the second most powerful party in the new administration. The Inkatha Freedom Party, which has a large presence in KwaZulu-Natal province, has two ministerial seats. In addition, one minister represents each of the other four parties.
The ANC has 33 deputy ministers, the DA has six, and the remaining posts are shared by three smaller parties.
Notably, two important legislative parties— uMkhonto weSizwe Party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, and Julius Malema's "Economic Freedom Fighters"—did not join the Government of National Unity. Both parties have proclaimed their determination to fight the government within and outside of parliament.