United Africa Royal Assembly Congratulates South Africa’s President-Elect Cyril Ramaphosa

South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa was reelected by lawmakers for a second term, hours after his African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance (DA) agreed to form a coalition, setting aside their rivalry in a historic governance pact.

The United Africa Royal Assembly (UARA) extended its warm congratulations to His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa on his re-election as President of the Republic of South Africa. The Assembly, led by HIH Prince Estifanos Matewos, hailed Ramaphosa’s success in forming a historic government of national unity, emphasizing that the recent elections underscored the people’s commitment to unity, collaborative governance, and the pursuit of a democratic society grounded in non-racialism, non-sexism, and justice.

In the statement, the UARA president acknowledged the significant role of traditional kings, chiefs, and leaders in South Africa’s post-Apartheid government, the Assembly praised the progressive policies enacted under Ramaphosa’s leadership, including the landmark Traditional Courts Act of 2022. Despite these strides, it highlighted ongoing challenges such as unrecognized kingships, role allocation issues, and the need for capacity building and cooperative governance models.

The United Africa Royal Assembly believes that integrating traditional leadership more robustly could greatly enhance the government’s efforts to address poverty, unemployment, and inequality. Recommendations included formalizing the inclusion of traditional leaders in decision-making processes, empowering them in governance and community development, and supporting the establishment of tribal banks to cater to community-specific needs.