Ramaphosa inaugurated at spectacular ceremony
Pretoria, South Africa (PANA) - President Cyril Ramaphosa was inaugurated as the sixth democratically-elected president at a spectacular ceremony at Pretoria’s Loftus Versveld stadium on Saturday.
The inauguration was held under the theme “Together Celebrating Democracy: Renewal and Growth for a Better South Africa” and coincided with the continental celebrations of Africa Day.
It is also the anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity which was formed in Ethiopia in 1963.
“We are profoundly grateful to you for choosing to celebrate Africa Day among us, giving further poignancy to South Africa’s transformation from a pariah state to a full and valued member of the family of African nations. We also recognise with appreciation those countries from other continents who have joined us today. We remain eternally grateful to all nations represented here for the sacrifices and tireless contributions by your people and governments to the liberation of our land,” Ramaphosa told tens of thousands of spectators.
He reaffirmed South Africa’s determination to work with its sisters and brothers across the continent to realise the African Union’s vision of Agenda 2063.
He said the aim was to build the Africa that all Africans wanted and forge a free trade area that stretched from Cape Town to Cairo.
“Today, we declare that our progress as South Africa depends on – and cannot be separated from – the onward march of our beloved continent Africa,” he said.
Former President Jacob Zuma snubbed the ceremony which was attended by every other living former President (Thabo Mbeki, FW De Klerk and Kgalema Motlanthe).
Addressing his supporters outside the High Court in Pietermaritzburg at his corruption trial on Friday, Zuma said: “I don’t have time to go there because I am busy here, trying to stay out of jail.”
Meanwhile, former President Nelson Mandela’s eldest grandson Mandla Mandela said the world statesman who died in 2013 would be happy with Ramaphosa’s election. The billionaire was Mandela’s close aide after his release from prison in 1990 and was known to be Mandela’s preferred successor.
The official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) said it was fitting that Ramaphosa was inaugurated on Africa Day.
“We congratulate him and will work with him over the next five years to build an inclusive and united South Africa for all. Next year the President will take up his seat as Chair of the African Union and as we commemorate the formation of the OAU, we encourage him to use his term to further an agenda for human rights, democracy, the rule of law, freedom and peace in Africa,” said DA MP Solly Malatsi.
-0- PANA CU/RA 25May2019
