Cyril Ramaphosa of the African National Congress (ANC) has been re-elected as South African president.

Mr Ramaphosa was elected at the first sitting of the parliament on Friday, presided upon by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

He polled 283 votes to defeat the opposition candidate, radical Economic Freedom Fighter party leader Julius Malema, who polled only 44 votes.

Unlike before, this time, the ANC, having failed to win majority seats in the National Assembly, had to enter a coalition with the Democratic Alliance party to form a government of national unity.

“I will serve all and work with even those who did not support me,” Mr Ramaphosa told the National Assembly after he won re-election through the support of Democratic Alliance MPs.

Earlier on Friday, the ANC reached an agreement with the Democratic Alliance (DA) to form a government of national government.

DA Leader John Steenhuisen said, “It is my privilege to report to you that after two weeks of thorough negotiations that only concluded after today’s sitting of parliament had already started, the DA has reached an agreement on the statement of intent for the formation of a Government of National Unity.”