The presidential inauguration is expected to cost in the region of R60-million, which is in line with the costs of previous inaugurations, the South African government divulged on Thursday.
At a briefing which included Minister in the Office of the Presidency Essop Pahad and 10 year democracy celebrations project manager Carl Niehaus, government indicated that the celebrations of a decade of non-racial democracy would “roll out” throughout the year — and not just on inauguration day on April 27.
The budget for the 10 year celebrations would be R80-million over two years and would fall under the Department of Arts and Culture. The inauguration budget would come from the Foreign Affairs Department.
The inauguration, to take place as usual at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, will involve morning activities leading up to the inauguration of the new president — widely expected to be the incumbent President Thabo Mbeki.
The morning activities will include a choir performance, while in the afternoon there will be performances of “clips of (South African) history,” followed by a concert in the evening. This will be an eclectic performance including kwaito and blues. South African Jazz musician Jonas Gwangwa is composing an inauguration song. All heads of state and government from around the world are being invited to the inauguration. – I-Net Bridge