South Africa President Ramaphosa to begin second term

As a result of the Following May elections in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa secured a second term after his party, the African National Congress (ANC), formed a coalition with the opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Thirty years after apartheid ended, the economy remains stagnant and exclusionary. Both the ANC and DA have liberal market regulation approaches, which gives some hope for economic improvement in South Africa. However, before his first term, Ramaphosa had promised to boost the country’s economy and reduce unemployment, which did not come to fruition. Now, by joining forces with his main opposition, Ramaphosa has another chance to lead his country out of a prolonged crisis, transcend racial issues and concentrate on combatting corruption and developing infrastructure.

If the parties manage to act cohesively, the new government will be able to develop improved anti-corruption measures through cross-party checks. Should the coalition succeed in targeting the most urgent issues, such as poor transport and water infrastructure, as well as the energy and housing crises, the coming years could bring significant positive changes to the lives of ordinary South Africans. Bolstering the foundations of economic freedom and facilitating workforce migration will be necessary for sustained economic growth.