South African foes unite in uneasy coalition

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is sworn into the National Assembly during the first sitting of the National Assembly following elections at the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) in Cape Town, South Africa, June 14, 2024. REUTERS/Nic Bothma

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - For the first time since Nelson Mandela negotiated an end to white minority rule, former sworn enemies are coming together in South Africa under a pledge to overcome ideological differences for the good of the nation.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the seismic political shift is a response to voters' demands for solutions to deepening woes - from sky-high unemployment and economic torpor to corruption and failing infrastructure.