Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Banner Left
Banner Right

Ramaphosa sworn in for second term

Cyril Ramaphosa

BARBARA USHER, NOMSA MASEKO and BASILLIOH RUKANGA

South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa has been sworn in for a second full term in office as president, despite failing to secure a majority in last month’s election for his African National Congress (ANC).

Lawmakers re-elected him as president last week, following a deal between the ANC, its long-time rival Democratic Alliance (DA) and other parties to form a coalition government.

The ANC, which has governed since the end of apartheid in 1994, lost its majority for the first time after the 29 May election produced no outright winner.

Many dignitaries, including several African heads of states, are attending the ceremony.

“I swear I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa. I will obey, observe and uphold the constitution and all other laws of the republic,” Ramaphosa said.

The oath of office was administered by chief justice Raymond Zondo.

After Ramaphosa took the oath, a band played the national anthem followed by a 21-gun salute and a fly-past by army helicopters, before he made his inaugural address.

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party formed six months ago by former president Jacob Zuma says its officials will not participate in the “farcical” inauguration.

The party, which won 15% of votes and obtained 58 parliamentary seats, also boycotted parliament’s first sitting last Friday.

Ramaphosa has kept the presidency even though the ANC vote fell by 17 percentage points and it lost 70 seats in parliament.

He did this through a power-sharing arrangement with the pro-business DA, a historic rival, and other parties.

The ANC got 40% of the vote, while the DA came second with 22%.

The coalition is a move to the political centre, because the ANC’s left-wing and populist breakaway parties rejected the invitation to join a national unity government.

Ramaphosa is expected to appoint a cabinet in the coming days, which is to include his new coalition partners – the DA and three other smaller parties.

Together, the coalition accounts for 68% of seats in parliament.

The president is also expected to set out an agenda to rescue the flailing economy.

Under his rule, the economic performance has continued to suffer amid power cuts, rising crime and unemployment.

Ramaphosa first became president in 2018 when his predecessor, Zuma, was forced to resign because of corruption allegations, which he denied.

Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!

Latest News