With his inauguration out of the way, President Cyril Ramaphosa will spend the next few days negotiating with ANC alliance partners and parties in the government of national unity (GNU) about the composition and size of his next administration.
Ramaphosa has already met ANC allies in Cosatu and the SACP to discuss cabinet appointments. He is expected to meet DA leaders before Friday, after two weeks of discussion on the GNU.
Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen will have to iron out who within their respective parties will take charge of which portfolios.
His inauguration effectively means that the cabinet he appointed in 2019 is now dissolved and a new one, which is to include parties such as the DA and the IFP, will have to be appointed soon to avoid a long vacuum in the higher echelons of government.
After his previous inauguration on May 25 2019, Ramaphosa announced the appointment of the current cabinet within four days. ANC ministers including Naledi Pandor and Bheki Cele did not make it on the party's parliamentary list, thus jeopardising their chances of returning to his cabinet.
On Wednesday, Ramaphosa sealed his second-term inauguration with a kiss for his wife, Dr Tshepo Motsepe.
Immediately after being sworn in by chief justice Raymond Zondo, Ramaphosa walked over to his wife and gave her a peck on the lips — to cheers and applause from the hundreds who came to witness the momentous occasion at the Union Buildings.
Among the guests were several current and former African heads of state including DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi, Nigeria’s Bola Tinubo, former president Thabo Mbeki and recently sworn-in MPs.
Ramaphosa used his inaugural speech to sell the GNU that his party had entered into after failing to win an absolute majority in the national and provincial elections last month.
“Understanding that no party can govern alone and make laws alone, these parties have agreed to work in partnership, to employ their talents for the good of the country and the progress of its people,” said Ramaphosa. “Together, they have resolved to establish a government of national unity to pursue a common programme of fundamental and lasting change.
“The formation of a government of national unity is a moment of profound significance. It is the beginning of a new era.”
The parties that have joined the GNU include the DA, the PA and the IFP.
The GNU has so far received mixed reactions from South Africans who have questioned the ANC’s decision to enter into such a pact with a white-led DA, given the recent history of the country.
Ramaphosa said the ANC, which garnered only 40% at the polls, was forced to form a GNU as the electoral did not give one party the outright majority that would enable it to form a government on its own.
He said he viewed this as a message from the electorate that opposing political parties must work together.
But above all, he said, the message was a demand by the electorate for an end to the theft of state funds, the desire to be safe in their homes and on the streets, being properly cared for, getting clean water and uninterrupted electricity, and a growing and inclusive economy.
The poll results were an expression of disappointment and disapproval of the government, he said.
“Above all, the people of South Africa have stressed that they are impatient with political bickering and the endless blame game among politicians and political parties. They want us to put their needs and aspirations first, and they want us to work together for the sake of our country,” said Ramaphosa.
Heeding this call from the electorate, Ramaphosa said he was willing to work with all political parties in a GNU to build a government that could respond to these messages.
“Today I stand before you as your humble servant to say we have heard you. As the president of the republic, I will work with everyone to reach out and work with every political party and sector that is willing to contribute to finding solutions to the challenges as we transition to a new decade of freedom,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa’s inauguration on the steps of the Union Buildings was marked by a show of force from the Defence Force. The air force put on its best display yet.
The usual flyovers were preceded a 21-gun salute.
Standing on arguably the biggest stage in the country, Ramaphosa said the moment he and other political parties had ushered in was critical.
He said it was up to the parties to decide where they took the country and to bridge the gap between haves and have-nots.
“And so today is no ordinary day. It is a moment of fundamental consequence in the life of our nation. It is a moment when we must choose to either move forward together or risk losing all we have built,” he said.
“In this moment we must choose to move forward; to close the distances between South Africans and to build a more equal society; to translate the promise of our constitution and the vision of the Freedom Charter into a reality for all.
“This moment requires extraordinary courage and leadership. It requires a common mission to safeguard national unity, peace, stability, inclusive economic growth, nonracialism and non-sexism.”
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