President Cyril Ramaphosa called for unity in the government of national unity (GNU) after being sworn in as president for a second five-year term.
President Cyril Ramaphosa called for unity in the government of national unity (GNU) after being sworn in as president for a second five-year term.
Ramaphosa, who is the fifth leader of a democratic South Africa, was sworn in by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo at a ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria attended by various African heads of state. Former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe were also present, but Ramaphosa’s predecessor, Jacob Zuma, boycotted the event.
Ramaphosa was re-elected as president by the National Assembly last Friday with the help of the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the Good party and the Patriotic Alliance (PA).
Ramaphosa first became president in February 2018 after Zuma was “recalled” by the ANC.
Zuma insists he is still a member of the ANC, but now leads the uMkhonto weSizwe party, which announced earlier this week that it would boycott the inauguration because it did not support the “ANC of Ramaphosa”.
The ANC had to take the unity government route after a poor showing at 29 May general elections in which its national support fell below 50%. There are five signatories to the agreement, namely the ANC, DA, IFP, PA and Good. These parties represent more than two-thirds of the seats in the National Assembly and more are expected to join the partnership.
Reading the oath on Wednesday, Ramaphosa swore to “obey, observe, uphold and maintain the Constitution and all other laws of the Republic”.
He also pledged to “advance the Republic and oppose all that may harm it” and to “devote myself to the wellbeing of the Republic and all of its people”.
In his inauguration speech, Ramaphosa called on all parties that will form part of the unity government to unite and prepare for the hard work ahead as the country’s seventh administration begins its work.
“We accept and respect the results of the elections and we once again say the people have spoken. Their will shall be done without any doubt or question. The voters of South Africa did not give any single party the full mandate to govern our country alone,” Ramaphosa said.
“They have directed us to work together to address their plight and realise their aspirations. They have expressed their appreciation of the progress in many areas of their lives over the past 30 years of democracy.”
He compared the current government of national unity to the one formed 30 years ago, at the end of apartheid rule.
“In their multitude, in voices that are many and diverse, the people of South Africa have voted and made known their wishes, their concerns and their expectations. We accept and respect the results of the elections and we once again say the people have spoken,” he said.
“Their will shall be done without any doubt or question. The voters of South Africa did not give any single party the full mandate to govern our country alone. They have directed us to work together to address their plight and realise their aspiration.”
Ramaphosa said he was aware that there were many areas in basic service delivery where the previous ANC government had fallen short including electricity, jobs, land, housing, food, healthcare, safety and corruption.
He said the ANC would work with any political party and sector willing to help tackle the country’s problems, adding that the GNU partners who have signed the statement of intent would attend a national dialogue to deliberate on these.
“Those who seek to stand in our way, those who seek to inflame tensions, will not succeed, because South Africans are resolute. Those who seek to undermine our institutions will fail, because democracy lives in the hearts of our people and will never be dislodged,” Ramaphosa said.
“Nothing will distract us from serving the people and advancing their interests. Now is the time to move forward. Together, we will do more and better. On this day, our hands are joined together. We are united. We are full of hope.”