Johnathan Paoli and Tlholohelo Mosala
Scores of South Africans flocked the Union Buildings to witness the inauguration of Cyril Ramaphosa as President on Wednesday to enjoy the free entertainment provided by many music and dance groups at the lawns of the building.
Many, clad in ANC regalia and traditional attire, travelled from as far afield as Rustenburg in North-West, Qwa-Qwa and Xhariep in the Free State, and Malamulele in Limpopo.
Inside Politics spoke to a few attendees at the Union Building ceremony, and this is what they had to say:
Nkosi Mabhekaphezulu Khumalo from the Mantungwa Royal Family came to support the President, and said that he held high hopes for the marriage between the ANC and the DA.
Itireleng Taole, an ANC branch chair in Kopanong Municipality in the Xhariep district, said that he travelled all the way to give his support to Ramaphosa and said that he was happy with the President’s leadership.
Ntombizanele Letsholo, from Kagiso in the West Rand, said she came all the way to Pretoria to support her President, and hoped his second term would be better, in light of his “shaky” first term.
Jane Tlholwe, “an ANC member in good standing”, also from the West Rand, urged the President to implement full employment for the EPWP workers and said she hoped outgoing Foreign Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor would come back from retirement and be appointed as Minister of Higher Education.
Nomvula Tshabalala, a mother from Qwa-Qwa in the Free State, asked the President to focus his term on battling unemployment.
The majority of attendees wanted the President to work towards improving the country’s economic fortunes, in order to reduce the cost of living and create more employment for both young and old.
INSIDE POLITICS
