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South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday announced he had awarded the opposition parties in his coalition, 12 out of 32 ministries.
The largest opposition the Democratic Alliance (DA) won six ministries including education, public works and environment, while six other posts went to the smaller parties.
The African National Congress, which has governed the country since the beginning of democracy in 1994, will hold 20 ministries including key portfolios such as finance, foreign affairs, energy and defense.
Ramaphosa named opposition leader John Steenhuisen, 48, of DA the Minister of Agriculture.
“The establishment of the Government of National Unity in its current form is unprecedented in the history of our democracy”, said 71-year-old Ramaphosa, speaking from Pretoria in a televised speech.
Ramaphosa was re-elected for a second full term last week, to lead what is called a Government of National Unity (GNU), having lost its outright majority in the May 29 general election. “The incoming government will prioritize rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and a creation of a more just society by tackling poverty and inequality as well as unemployment”, he added.
The announcement came after weeks of negotiations between ANC and DA. Democratic Alliance won 87 parliament seats as compared to ANC’s 159 seats.
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