🪖🇿🇦🇨🇩 SANDF casualties reported in latest battle against M23 rebels in the DRC

DRC government forces (FARDC) together with Wazalendo militia and SAMIDRC troops bombarded M23 rebel positions in the mountains around Sake – about 30 km from Goma – on Thursday morning, which was followed by a ground assault on M23 positions. The M23 rebels apparently destroyed five SAMIDRC vehicles, and captured an armoured personnel carrier (APC) and a truck. They also bombarded Sake, with at least several projectiles falling on the town, killing a number of civilians.

Photos and videos posted on social media show rockets being fired at – apparently – M23 targets, and an SA Army Mamba armoured personnel carrier covered in spent shell casings and with bullet damage to the windscreen and at least one flat tyre. Another photo shows an IVECO truck apparently captured from FARDC or Tanzanian forces.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/african-news/dead-and-wounded-reported-in-latest-battle-against-m23-rebels-in-the-drc/

🗳 ANC loses majority for first time in 30 years

For the first time since universal suffrage in South Africa started in 1994, the African National Congress has lost their majority in parliament.

The ANC suffered a 17% loss in support since the last national election, mostly attributed to the rise of former president Jacob Zuma's MK party and voter disillusionment.

In order for the South African parliament to elect the next president it will be necessary to form a coalition government.

ANC Chairman Gwede Mantashe has said the party won’t comment on coalition talks until the final results are declared.

🗳Ramaphosa won’t resign despite historic ANC electoral loss, seeks coalition with DA

President Cyril Ramaphosa does not intend to resign as ANC leader despite leading the party to the historic loss of an electoral majority it has held for 30 years, the Mail & Guardian has learned.

Though he is bitterly disappointed that the ANC barely polled 40 percent, sources close to Ramaphosa said he reasons that “much is at stake” and South Africa is in need of political maturity that can provide stable governance after voters tore up the odds by making his predecessor Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe party the third biggest in the country.

The only route to that stability, for Ramaphosa and his closest allies within the ANC, is through a working arrangement with the Democratic Alliance.

The party’s Gauteng leadership and younger members of the ANC national executive committee have thus far favoured the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as a coalition partner but this thinking has lost some of its currency with a far lower share of the vote than in 2019.

Several high-ranking ANC sources have confirmed to the Mail & Guardian that they are advocating such a tie-up to create a centrist government, and would not countenance any concessions to Zuma’s MK party.

Some suggested there is an in-principle agreement between the two biggest parties that they will work together.

“There is alignment. It is a question of ironing out details,” one said.

https://mg.co.za/politics/2024-06-02-ramaphosa-wont-resign-despite-historic-anc-electoral-loss-seeks-coalition-with-da/

🗳📝What are the ANC's and DA's options?

🔹The first is a full-blown coalition in which the official opposition becomes the junior partner.

🔹The second is a narrowly-structured pact where the DA agrees to cooperate on particular steps required for the government to function, notably the election of the president in the National Assembly and the passing of the national budget.

🔹In return, the DA would secure key positions within parliament that would allow it to hold the executive to account. In any haggling of this nature, it is almost certain to demand greater devolution of powers to provinces.

🗳🇿🇦 2024 South African General Election Final National Assembly Seat Count

- The ANC now holds 159 seats, down from 230.
- The DA has seen an increase from 84 seats to 87.
- The EFF's seats have decreased from 44 to 39.
- Meanwhile, the MK Party has secured 58 seats.

🗳🇿🇦 ANC Engages Rivals on Forming New South African Government

South Africa’s African National Congress has begun talks with its rivals on the formation of a new government after last month’s elections failed to produce an outright winner.

The party is considering a government of national unity (GNU) that would include a number of parties, ANC spokeswoman Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri told reporters on Wednesday.

They are speaking to all parties, including the IFP, EFF, PA and DA. They have reached out to the MK, but have not yet received a positive response.

📝 South Africa had a GNU from 27 April 1994 to 3 February 1997. The interim constitution required that all parties with 20 or more seats in the national assembly could claim one or more cabinet portfolios and enter the government.

The defunct National Party (NP) and the Inkatha Freedom Party both obtained cabinet positions with their 82 and 43 seats respectively. The NP abandoned the GNU on 3 June 1996 citing a lack of influence on government policy and FW de Klerk resigned from his position as deputy president that he shared with Thabo Mbeki.

The ANC had a majority in parliament during this period, unlike now.

@SouthAfricaReports

🗳🇿🇦 President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the ANC will be inviting other parties to establish a government of national unity.

The ANC's executive body has set up a task team to deal with negotiations.

🗳🇿🇦 South Africa’s New Parliament to Hold First Sitting on Friday

South Africa’s parliament will hold its first sitting since last month’s elections on June 14, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said.

During the sitting, Zondo will administer the oath of office to members of the National Assembly, his office said in a statement on Monday. That process will be followed by the election of the speaker and the deputy speaker, and then the president, Zondo said in the statement.

🗳🇿🇦Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen confirms GNU with ANC and IFP

The DA signed an agreement to form a government of national unity with the ANC and IFP said Steenhuisen. The DA will also form part of some of the provincial governments alongside the ANC.

According to Steenhuisen, Cyril Ramaphosa will be re-elected as president of South Africa this afternoon in parliament by the three parties.

A cabinet will be chosen by Ramaphosa consisting proportionally out of nominations made by the ANC, DA, and IFP.

🗳🇿🇦Cyril Ramaphosa reelected as president

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been reelected as president of South Africa for his second term.

The Democratic Alliance supported him as part of their GNU deal.

283 MPs voted for Ramaphosa and 44 voted for EFF leader Julius Malema.