By Hassan Isilow
JOHANNESBURG
Holding its first sitting since the May 7 elections, South Africa's National Assembly on Wednesday reelected Jacob Zuma to a second five-year presidential term.
The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) tried to block the reelection by asking Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, who presided over the session, to invalidate Zuma's nomination on grounds that he had not satisfactorily responded to recent charges leveled by the country's anti-corruption czar.
The chief justice dismissed the request and confirmed Zuma as president.
Zuma, who was elected unopposed, will be inaugurated on May 24 at a gathering expected to attract several heads of state.
In March, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela accused Zuma of using public funds to renovate his personal country house.
The upgrade of Zuma's rural home was supposed to have cost the state some $2.5 million. But with lavish upgrades – including a swimming pool, cattle kraal and visitor's center – the total cost skyrocketed to some $23 million.
Zuma has denied involvement in the construction and procurement phases of the renovation and has adamantly refused to pay back the money.
The issue figured prominently in opposition electoral campaigns in the run-up to general polls that were held on May 7.
Born in 1942, Zuma served as deputy president from 1999 to June 2005. In 2009, he was elected president.
-Speaker-
Lawmakers also elected Baleka Mbete, current chairperson of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), as new parliament speaker.
Mbete, who held the same position between 2004 and 2008, defeated the DA's Nosimo Balindlela.
South Africa held general elections on May 7, with 29 political parties contesting the polls.
The ANC, which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994, won 249 seats, down from a previous 264.
The DA, the country's main opposition party, secured 89 parliamentary seats.
www.aa.com.tr/en
