By RFIPalled on 25-05-2019Modified on 25-05-2019 at 17:54

In South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa took an oath this Saturday, May 25, in Pretoria, in the capital's big stadium, in the presence of several thousand guests. The 66-year-old Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected on Wednesday by ANC deputies who remained in the majority of the parliament after the May 8 parliamentary elections. His inaugural speech was rather a consensual speech.

It was a rather smooth investiture speech that was meant to bring people together. For twenty minutes, after taking the oath, Cyril Ramaphosa hammered that it was necessary to preserve the unity of the country, but also of the continent, while this inaugural day coincides with the World Day of Africa.

This five-year term, according to him, opens the " dawn of a new era " for South Africa, which he hopes full of hope, despite the many challenges. The President has once again hammered out his campaign promises, namely the end of the waste of state resources, the eradication of poverty within a generation in one of the most unequal countries in the world and the possibility of to find work where the unemployment rate reaches 27%.

25 years after the first free elections and the inaugural speech of Nelson Mandela, Cyril Ramaphosa promises that these are not empty words, but that there will be " action " during his five-year term.

A warm atmosphere

This oath took place in the presence of several thousand people, including distinguished guests.

About 30,000 people dressed in black, green and gold sang together for their elected president and cheered on the army parades. Coming from all over the country, all these spectators explained that they wanted to attend the renewal of their party, the ANC, in the person of Cyril Ramaphosa.

#PeoplesInauguration 🇿🇦 https://t.co/MJRzL81GYl

Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 25, 2019

Also present are many Presidents of the continent, neighbors of South Africa, including Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Congolese Felix Tshisekedi, Senegalese Macky Sall and, more surprisingly, Rwandan President Paul Kagame who was installed on coast with Ugandan head of state Museveni, despite tensions between the two countries.

Finally the great missing of this ceremony, was of course Jacob Zuma which Cyril Ramaphosa succeeded, last year, against the backdrop of corruption scandals. Charged with corruption, former president Jacob Zuma said he was too busy. " I do not have time, I fight to avoid jail, " he said while appearing in court, for a week.

    On the same subject

    South Africa: the challenges facing President Ramaphosa

    South Africa: President Ramaphosa cleans the ANC

    After a dull victory of the ANC, Ramaphosa promises to eradicate corruption

    Elections in South Africa: the ANC in the lead according to the first partial results

    comments