The new South African president again received a standing ovation with nearly the entire National Assembly on their feet as he concluded his address.
Newly-elected president Cyril Ramaphosa will outline his plan to fight corruption in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Friday and wants his presidency to be categorised by political parties working together, despite competing allegiances.
Ramaphosa extended an olive branch to opposition parties in his maiden address to members of parliament as head of state on Thursday.
“One of the things I will be seeking to do is to seek to work with all political parties, to meet with the leaders of all parties, so that we can try to find a way to work together,” the newly elected president said.
This was in response to the National Freedom Party chief whip Moses Khubisa, who called on Ramaphosa to inculcate a new culture of nation building and patriotism.
Ramaphosa was elected ANC president in December and replaced Jacob Zuma, who resigned in a live address to the nation on Wednesday night.
His anti-corruption and renewal message hit home among ANC supporters and in parliament, he repeated his intention to fight the scourge.
“State capture and issues of state-owned enterprises are issues that are on our radar screen. Those are issues we will be addressing and I will outline how we plan to address that in tomorrow’s state of the nation,” Ramaphosa continued.
Ramaphosa’s arrival was met by song and dance in parliament, and his election garnered a standing ovation from nearly everyone in the gallery and most opposition parties.
The Economic Freedom Fighters, however, walked out saying parliament is conducting an illegitimate election because the house had been found by the constitutional court to have failed to uphold the constitution.
Ramaphosa hopes that his election would also improve the quality of debates in parliament, during which “shouting’ had become common, he said.
“It would be wonderful if the level of debate in this house can be raised to a level where we discuss issues of national interest without screaming at each other. I would want us to rise to that level.”
In government, Ramaphosa planned to put together a “great team” to implement the ANC policy resolutions.
“We should choose a great team, that’s precisely what our people deserve. To have a team that will work in their interests. My wish is that all of us should be able to work and lead our people with great courage,” Ramaphosa said.
His unopposed election as head of state was met with cautious optimism by opposition parties in the National Assembly on Thursday, with well wishes, warnings and even threats.
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa credited ordinary South Africans for Ramaphosa’s election and joked that the ANC had finally managed to give Zuma a ‘shibobo’.
“Your abrupt rise to the highest office in the land is the collective effort and relentless struggles of the people of SA from all walks of life,” Holomisa said.
Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said that Ramaphosa’s election did not mark the end of South Africa’s problems. Maimane pledged to assist Ramaphosa if he “act in the interests of South Africans”.
He said uncertainty would continue as long as the ANC remained in charge of government.
“We don’t have a Jacob Zuma problem. We have an ANC problem. This is a moment in our country when we must go back to the people of SA and ask them for a fresh mandate,” Maimane said, calling for fresh elections to be held.
The new South African president again received a standing ovation with nearly the entire National Assembly on their feet as he concluded his address:
“I will try to work very hard not to disappoint the people of South Africa.”