South Africa president, newly elected by parliament, vows to tackle corruption News
South Africa president, newly elected by parliament, vows to tackle corruption

Cyril Ramaphosa [Independent, profile] was elected as South Africa’s president in a parliamentary vote [Reuters report] on Thursday after former president Jacob Zuma resigned, ending his nine year presidency, in the face of a pending no-confidence vote.

Ramaphosa is expected to be sworn in later in the day, and to make any changes to the cabinet after an address on Friday. He pledged to tackle endemic corruption in the government that was so widespread [NYT report] in Zuma’s administration that it was often clear when business partners or friends influenced government decisions in their personal interest.

The parliament had called [JURIST report] for Zuma’s resignation amidst corruption allegations and social and economic issues [WP report] such as unemployment, economic stagnation and water shortages. The ANC invoked Rule 12.2.21.2 of the ANC Constitution [text] allowing the National Executive Committee of the ANC to recall any public representative.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Egypt President Anwar Sadat visits Israel

On November 19, 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Israel, becoming the first leader of an Arab nation to officially visit. Two years later, President Sadat became the first Arab leader to recognize Israel by signing the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty. Read President Sadat's address to the Israeli Knesset.

Jay Treaty signed

On November 19, 1794, US Chief Justice John Jay and British foreign secretary Lord Grenville signed a treaty in Philadelphia under which British forces pulled out of the disputed Northwest Territory. Review the Jay Treaty.