Charles Molele
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday called on business, labour and every patriotic South African to forge a compact to deal decisively with the current challenges of racial inequality, poverty and joblessness.
Ramaphosa was speaking during his presidential inauguration held at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, where he was earlier sworn in as the country’s fifth democratic president by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.
“Let us – as we embark on this new era – mobilise our every resource and summon our every capability to realise the vision of our founding mothers and fathers,” Ramaphosa told thousands of South Africans gathered at the stadium to celebrate a new dawn and an era of hope.
“Let us forge a compact – not merely as business and labour, not as those who govern and those who are governed – but as citizens and patriots of this great nation, free and equal and resolute. Let us forge a compact for growth and economic opportunity, for productive lands and viable communities, for knowledge, for innovation, and for services that are affordable, accessible and sustainable.
“Let us forge a compact for an efficient, capable and ethical state, a state that is free from corruption, for companies that generate social value and propel human development, for elected officials and public servants who faithfully serve no other cause than that of the public.”
Over 30,000 South Africans arrived at the stadium as early as 6am, and were entertained with music and dance by, among others, the Tshikona Tsha Tshilungwi Traditional Dancers, spotting their colourful Venda women’s cloth, minwenda.
The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) also delivered a fine display, including a colourful flypast the SA Air Force and a 21-Gun Salute by the SANDF’s four artillery regiments, fired from the Pretoria Girls High School, near Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Among dignitaries who walked the red carpet were various heads of state and government, including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, Namibia’s President Hage Geingob and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi.
Former presidents also attended Ramaphosa’s inauguration, including FW de Klerk, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe.
Notably absent at the inauguration was former president Jacob Zuma, who sent his wife, Bongi Ngema-Zuma. In recent months, Zuma has attended every ANC national executive committee (NEC) meetings, and this week appeared in the Pietermaritzburg High Court for his corruption trial.
At the time of going to press, it was still unclear why he did not attend Ramaphosa’s inauguration.
Deputy president David Mabuza, who failed to take his oath in Parliament on Wednesday due to serious corruption allegations against him, also attended the inauguration.
Ramaphosa is the first South African president since the dawn of democracy 25 years ago who never went into exile or Robben Island, but understands the complexities of what needs to be done to fix the country, following his years in the student Christian movement, Black Consciousness movement, mass-based democratic organizations, labour, business and the Constitution drafting process.
During his speech, Ramaphosa painted his election as ushering in a new dawn, and vowed to turn his attention to trying to resolve the country’s challenges, particularly the economy.
He said through the irrefutable power of the ballot on 8 May, South Africans declared the dawn of a new era.
He said South Africans have chosen hope over hopelessness, and they have opted for unity over conflict and divisions.
“As we give effect to their mandate, we draw comfort from the knowledge that that which unites us is far, far more powerful and enduring than that which divides us,” said Ramaphosa.
“This is a defining moment for our young nation. Today is the choice of history. It is a time for us to make the future we yearn for. It is through our actions now that we will determine our destiny. South Africans want action and not just words and promises. And there will be action.”
Ramaphosa said during the elections, that South Africans have chosen those who have been sent to Parliament to realise their dreams.
“I am saying now, South Africa – yebo, Thuma Mina!” I will serve you side by side and work with you to build a country we all want and deserve,” said Ramaphosa.
The crowd cheered as Ramaphosa said South Africa yearned for the principle of ‘Motho ke Motho Ka Batho’, which means ‘a person is a person through other people’.
Ramaphosa said ‘after the next 25 years of freedom there should be no child who goes hungry. Every school child will be able to read, and every person who wants to work will have a reasonable opportunity to find employment.’
Ramaphosa added: “In recent times, our people have watched as some of those in whom they had invested their trust have surrendered to the temptation of power and riches. They have seen some of the very institutions of our democracy eroded and resources squandered.”
