South Africans gather in numbers on the South Lawns of the Union Buildings before President Cyril Ramaphosa is sworn in. Photo: Nigel Sibanda
Traditional music, an orchestra, prayers, a 21-gun salute and poetry by a praise singer marked the swearing in of President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings yesterday.
The Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre where dignitaries sat resembled a black sea, with most guests holding black umbrellas against a wintry Pretoria sun.
Besides Ramaphosa’s inauguration speech, delivered after a swearing in ceremony conducted by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, one of the most spectacular displays was the fly-past by the country’s fighter jets, helicopters and Boeings.
After all the dignitaries had arrived, Ramaphosa’s arrival was led by a convoy of police on motorbikes, others on horseback and the ceremonial guard.
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An SA National Defence Force brass band belted out the national anthem.
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