Cyril Ramaphosa will be inaugurated as South Africa’s president in Pretoria on Wednesday. This follows the African National Congress (ANC) forming a coalition government due to its weakened position.
Lawmakers re-elected the 71-year-old last week after the May 29 general election yielded no clear winner. Ramaphosa expressed his commitment to serving the nation in a Friday address to parliament.
The inauguration, attended by MPs, foreign dignitaries, and traditional leaders, will take place at the Union Buildings. Nearly 20 heads of state, mainly from neighboring countries, have confirmed attendance.
China, Egypt, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Angola, and the State of Palestine will be represented at the ceremony, which features music, a 21-gun salute, and an air force flypast. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will administer the oath.
This marks Ramaphosa’s third swearing-in. He first took office in 2018 after Jacob Zuma’s ousting, was reappointed in 2019, and now leads a coalition government following a tough election for the ANC.
