AS IT HAPPENED: President Cyril Ramaphosa sworn in

Cyril Ramaphosa

South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa hailed “the beginning of a new era” on Wednesday as he was sworn in for a second full term as president after his weakened African National Congress (ANC) struck a hard-won government coalition deal to remain in power.

Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to re-elect the 71-year-old last week after a May 29 general election produced no outright winner for the first time in three decades.

“The formation of a government of national unity is a moment of profound significance. It is the beginning of a new era,” Ramaphosa said, after taking the oath of office during a ceremony at the Union Buildings, the seat of government, in Pretoria.

“The voters of South Africa did not give any single party the full mandate to govern our country alone,” he added, speaking before lawmakers, foreign dignitaries, religious and traditional leaders and cheering supporters.

“They have directed us to work together to address their plight and realise their aspirations.”

Ramaphosa is expected to announce his cabinet in the coming days, as talks with coalition members continue.

Numerous heads of state, including Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Angola’s Joao Lourenco, Congo Brazzaville’s Denis Sassou Nguesso and Eswatini’s absolute leader King Mswati III attended the inauguration.

Guests in suits, fancy dresses and coats to keep warm in the chilly winter weather started to arrive early in the morning amid a heavy police presence.

VIPs, some singing anti-apartheid struggle songs, were allowed into a small amphitheatre within the imposing, sandstone government building.

Other attendees, some holding South African flags, sat on a lawn outside as dancers and musicians performed on a big stage.

After Ramaphosa was sworn in, a band played the national anthem, followed by a 21-gun salute and a fly past by the air force.

Third time lucky 

It was the third time Ramaphosa has taken the oath.

The former trade unionist turned millionaire businessman first came to power in 2018, after his predecessor and rival Jacob Zuma was forced out before the end of his term under the cloud of corruption allegations.

Ramaphosa was then re-appointed for a full five-year term in 2019. In South Africa, voters elect the parliament, which then votes for the president.

Ramaphosa promised a new dawn for South Africa, launched an anti-graft drive and started to reform a collapsing energy system.

But under his watch, the economy languished, blighted by power cuts, crime remained rife and unemployment increased to 32.9 percent.

In May, he led the ANC into yet another vote, but the historied party of the late Nelson Mandela came out bruised.

It won only 40 percent — down from 57.5 percent five years earlier.

For the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994, it lost its absolute majority in parliament and was left scrambling to find coalition partners to remain in power.

It has since agreed to form what it calls a national unity government with several other parties.

Unity 

They include the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party, the anti-immigration Patriotic Alliance and the small centre-left GOOD party.

The deal allowed Ramaphosa to comfortably see off a last-minute challenge by firebrand leftist politician Julius Malema, with 283 lawmakers in the 400-seat National Assembly voting to put him back in office.

But it has faced a vociferous opposition from the left, with Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters and former president Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) refusing to take part and denouncing the inclusion of right-wing parties and the white-led, free-market DA.

MK came third in the election but has contested the results.

Party spokesman Nhlamulo Ndhlela said in a statement ahead of the ceremony that its lawmakers would snub the “farcical inauguration of Cyril Ramaphosa as the puppet DA-sponsored President”, also using a racial slur to describe the ANC leader.

But Ramaphosa said voters had stressed they were “impatient with political bickering” and wanted parties to “put their needs and aspirations first” and “work together for the sake” of the country.

“We must reject every attempt to divide or distract us, to sow doubt or cynicism, or to turn us against one another,” he said, in an apparent, veiled dig at his opponents.

“As leaders, as political parties, we are called upon to work in partnership towards a growing economy, better jobs, safer communities and a government that works for its people.” – AFP

President Cyril Ramaphosa is now addressing the nation

Courtesy of SABC News

South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in for a second full term as president at a ceremony in Pretoria on Wednesday, after his weakened African National Congress (ANC) struck a government coalition deal.

“I Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa swear that I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa, and will obey, observe, uphold and maintain the Constitution and all other law of the Republic,” the 71-year-old said as he took the oath of office before Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. – AFP

 

Cyril Ramaphosa has been sworn in for a new term as president at a ceremony in Pretoria.

The ceremony took place on Wednesday.

This was after his weakened African National Congress (ANC) struck a government coalition deal.

 

Members of the public, including elderly members from the Suid-Afrikaanse Vroue Federasie (SAVF) in Ruimte, north of Pretoria, have begun arriving at the Union Buildings for today’s presidential inauguration.

Excited about attending the ceremony for the first time, these pensioners, mostly over 80 years old, expressed optimism and anticipation, SABC reported.

They eagerly await the opportunity to see President Ramaphosa in person, whom they admire for his integrity and leadership.

Attendees will watch the swearing-in ceremony and the South African Air Force flypast on a large screen set up on the lawns, with Ramaphosa expected to address the crowd afterward.

 

In the first sitting of the National Assembly on Friday, Members of Parliament re-elected Cyril Ramaphosa as president. Nominated by his party, Ramaphosa secured 283 votes, while Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) president Julius Malema received 44 votes.

Road closures around Union Buildings

Numerous roads around the Union Buildings will be closed from 3 a.m. on Wednesday until 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 20.

Roads affected are:

  • Gordon Road and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Jan Shoba and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Grosvenor and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Hilda and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Festival and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Athlone and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Hill and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Orient and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Balmoral Avenue and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Lisdogan Avenue and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Farenden and Stanza Bopape Street
  • East Avenue and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Beckett and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Pine and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Blackwood and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Johan and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Wessels and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Madiba and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Ledys/Zeederberg and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Hamilton and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Steve Biko and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Dumbarton Road and Stanza Bopape Street
  • Dumbarton Road and Harcourt Street
  • Dumbarton Road and Nassau Street
  • Madiba Street and Government Avenue
  • Edmond Street and Government Avenue
  • Balmoral and Government Avenue
  • Tom Jenkins Drive and Soutpansberg Road
  • Tom Jenkins Drive and Russell Street
  • Tom Jenkins Drive next to Government House
  • East and Government Avenue
  • Beckett Street and Government Avenue
  • Pine Street and Government Avenue
  • Blackwood Street and Government Avenue
  • North Street
  • Soutpansberg Street
  • Van De Merwe Street
  • Nuffield Street

Alternative routes include:

  • Pretorius Street
  • Park Street
  • Du Toit Street
  • Greef Street
  • Frederika Street
  • Justice Mahomed Street
  • There will also be a park-and-ride system from Rietondale Park.

Shuttles will operate from 3 a.m., and no private vehicles will be permitted to access the Union Buildings or the surrounding area, except for residents with permits.

Preparations are complete for Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration on Wednesday, which will be held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The government has clarified, however, that it is business as usual and the day is not a public holiday.

Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will conduct the swearing-in, witnessed by both South African and international guests, including dignitaries from various sectors.

Johannesburg – Cyril Ramaphosa is to be sworn in as president at a ceremony in Pretoria on Wednesday, after his weakened African National Congress (ANC) struck a government coalition deal.

Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to re-elect the 71-year-old last week, after a May 29 general election that produced no outright winner.

“It will once again be a privilege and a pleasure to once again service this nation,” Ramaphosa told parliament on Friday.

He will officially inaugurate his second five-year term on Wednesday before MPs, foreign dignitaries, religious and traditional leaders and others at the Union Buildings, the seat of government.

The presidency said almost 20 heads of state and government, many from neighbouring nations, are expected to attend, and additional confirmations were being received.

Among countries that “will be represented at a high level”, it listed China, Egypt, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Angola and the State of Palestine.

The ceremony will include music and artistic performances, a 21-gun salute and a fly past by the air force.

Ramaphosa will be sworn in by the head of the constitutional court, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, and then deliver an inaugural address.

Third time lucky 

It will be the third time Ramaphosa takes the oath.

The former trade unionist turned millionaire businessman first came to power in 2018, after his predecessor and rival Jacob Zuma was forced out before the end of his term under the cloud of corruption allegations.

Ramaphosa was then re-appointed for a full five-year term in 2019. In South Africa, voters elect the parliament which then votes for the president.

Ramaphosa promised a new dawn for South Africa, launched an anti-graft drive and started to reform a collapsing energy system.

But under his watch, the economy languished, blighted by power cuts, crime remained rife and unemployment increased to 32.9 percent.

In May, he led the ANC into yet another vote, but the historied party of the late Nelson Mandela came out bruised.

It won only 40 percent of the vote — down from 57.5 percent five years earlier.

For the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994, it lost its absolute majority in parliament and was left scrambling to find coalition partners to remain in power.

It has since agreed to form what it calls a national unity government with several other parties.

They include the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party, the anti-immigration Patriotic Alliance and the small centre-left GOOD party.

The deal allowed Ramaphosa to comfortably see off a last-minute challenge by firebrand leftist politician Julius Malema, with 283 lawmakers in the 400-seat National Assembly voting to put him back in office.

The president is expected to announce his cabinet within days of his inauguration, as talks with coalition members continue. – AFP

The Umkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party has announced it will boycott President-elect Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration.

While 18 heads of state are expected to attend, the MK party, led by a spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, criticised Ramaphosa’s presidency as being influenced by the DA, calling it a betrayal of their struggle for freedom.

Ndhlela urged others to boycott the event, accusing the ANC of prioritising positions over people’s welfare.

Former president Jacob Zuma echoed the same sentiments, denying the existence of a true Government of National Unity (GNU) and accusing the recent election of consolidating right-wing forces.

The MK party plans to challenge the election results in the International Court and will participate in the legislative arm of the state along with other opposition groups.

 

Cape Town – Eighteen heads of state and government, three former leaders, and nine heads of delegation will attend the inauguration of president-elect Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday.

The event, themed “30 years of democracy, partnership, and growth”, will be held at the Union Buildings in Tshwane, with the swearing-in conducted by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

Countries represented include Eswatini, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, Tanzania, Uganda, China, Egypt, Palestine, and Cuba.

Significant street closures and traffic diversions around OR Tambo International Airport and the Union Buildings will be implemented for safety and security.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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