JOHANNESBURG – Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in for a second term as South Africa’s president on Wednesday in a ceremony in the administrative capital, Pretoria, with help from a coalition of parties for the first time in its 30-year rule.
Ramaphosa is now set to appoint a Cabinet in a new coalition government after his African National Congress party lost its parliamentary majority in an election last month.
He was reelected president by lawmakers Friday after the main opposition party and a smaller third party joined the ANC in a coalition agreement to co-govern Africa’s most industrialized economy.
He will have to guide the first coalition government in which no party has a majority At least three parties will make up what the ANC is calling a government of national unity, with more invited to join.
Ramaphosa was administered the oath of office in a public ceremony at the Union Buildings, the seat of government, by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
The ceremony included a 21-gun salute by the presidential guard and a flypast by the South Africa Air Force over the Union Buildings. South African musicians and cultural dancers entertained thousands of citizens who attended the swearing-in.
“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 realize their aspirations,” he said according to AP.
