President Cyril Ramaphosa has held a telephone call with his new counterpart in Botswana, Duma Boko, and offered his warm congratulations to Boko, the government, and people of the Republic of Botswana on the success of the recently concluded elections.
Boko’s Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) coalition was declared the winner of Wednesday’s general elections, which saw the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) lose power by a landslide for the first time in 58 years.
Ramaphosa welcomed the immediate establishment of transitional plans between the outgoing administration that was led by President Mokgweetsi Masisi and the incoming administration of President Boko.
“The success of the elections in our sister nation and the seamless transition that is already underway affirms the demonstration of democratic maturity in our region and on our continent.
As South Africa, we look forward to deepening our fraternal relations and cooperation with the Republic of Botswana, with outcomes that will benefit both our nations,” said President Ramaphosa.
The 54-year-old Boko, who is a Harvard Law University graduate, also ran in the 2014 and 2019 elections.
He was sworn-in as the country’s sixth president on Friday, and in his inaugural speech pledged to increase the minimum wage and introduce universal health insurance amongst others.
