Ramaphosa sworn in as South Africa's president

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Europe

01:10

Trade unionist-turned-businessman Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in as the president of South Africa on Saturday, vowing to create jobs and tackle deep-rooted corruption that has strangled economic growth.

Ramaphosa, who becomes the country's fourth democratically elected president since the end of apartheid, took the presidential oath before a crowd of about 32,000 people in a rugby stadium in the capital, Pretoria.

"Today our nation enters a new era of hope and renewal," said Ramaphosa. "Let us forge a compact for growth and economic opportunities, for productive land and wider opportunities ... A compact of an efficient, capable and ethical state. A state that is free from corruption."

Cyril Ramaphosa (L) waves after taking the oath of office at his inauguration as South African president at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, May 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) clinched a 57.5 percent majority in a general election earlier in May, down from 62 percent in 2014 as voters turned against the ruling party due to revelations about government corruption and record unemployment.

Ramaphosa narrowly won the ANC leadership race in late 2017 and replaced scandal-plagued predecessor Jacob Zuma as state president in February 2018, a year before the latter's term was due to expire.

"The challenges our country faces are huge and are real but they are not insurmountable. They can be solved and I stand here to say they are going to be solved," Ramaphosa said in his speech on Saturday.

Guests sing as they arrive for the inauguration of Cyril Ramaphosa as President at Loftus Versveld stadium in Pretoria, May 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

Political analysts say a key test of Ramaphosa's ability to deliver reforms will be his announcement of a new cabinet, which is expected to take place next week.

"The speech was an honest and brutal reflection of South Africa's recent problems. But it was also optimistic," said Daniel Silke, director of the Political Futures Consultancy.

"He will be judged on a very high bar and the next step is the cabinet. If it contains any semblance of the dead wood from the past he will be severely critiqued."

(Cover: Cyril Ramaphosa takes the oath of office at his inauguration as South African president, at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, May 25, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters