Inauguration of Cyril Ramaphosa for a second term as President: A new political era for South Africa
Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in for a second term as South Africa’s president at an official ceremony on Wednesday in Pretoria, the administrative capital, following his re-election through a coalition of parties, a first in 30 years of rule of the country.
Ramaphosa is now preparing to form a Cabinet in a new coalition government, after his party, the African National Congress, lost its parliamentary majority in last month’s elections. He was re-elected president by MPs last Friday after the main opposition party and a smaller third party joined the African National Congress in a deal to co-governance of Africa’s most industrialized economy.
He will have to guide the first coalition government in which no party holds a majority. At least three parties will form what the ANC calls a national unity government, with more invited to join them.
Ramaphosa was sworn in in a public ceremony at the Union Buildings, the seat of government, by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
King Mswati III of Eswatini, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa and former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga were among the many dignitaries present at the inauguration ceremony as Ramaphosa begins what promises to be a difficult final mandate.
The ceremony included a 21-gun salute by the presidential guard and a flyover of the Union Buildings by the South African Air Force. Traditional South African musicians and dancers entertained the thousands of citizens present during the oath.
In his address to the nation, Ramaphosa said the people had spoken and their will would be respected.
“The voters of South Africa have not given a full mandate to any one party to govern our country alone. They have told us to work together to solve their problems and achieve their aspirations,” he said.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that the people of South Africa “have also made clear their disappointment and disapproval of our performance in some areas where we have disappointed them.” He also acknowledged that society “remains deeply unequal and highly polarized,” which could “easily turn into instability.”
“The lines drawn by our history, between blacks and whites, between men and women, between suburbs and townships, between urban and rural, between rich and poor, remain engraved in our landscape,” he added.
He also promised that the new government would create new job opportunities to address high unemployment, as well as provide citizens with basic services such as housing, healthcare and clean water.
While Ramaphosa’s words were intended to reassure an already economically weakened population, the new administration could prove difficult to lead.
It is made up of parties that are ideologically opposed and cannot agree on how to address the country’s many challenges, including land redistribution policies, proposed solutions to the electricity crisis, and their divergent views on affirmative action.
Major players such as the Democratic Alliance and the Inkatha Freedom Party have already joined the coalition, and others such as the Patriotic Alliance, the GOOD Party and the Pan African Congress are expected to follow.
However, the third largest party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, the uMkhonto weSizwe party, and the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters party have declined to be part of it.
It is still unclear when the composition of the new Cabinet will be announced.