GNU parties retreat to their camps to finalise talks about cabinet
President Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Cyril Ramaphosa taking his oath of office while being sworn in as president of South Africa by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, on 19 June 2024. Pictre: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Proceedings at the Union Buildings have wrapped up for the day with parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) expected to retreat to their camps to finalise talks about cabinet.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday.
High-level delegates from across the world were part of the pomp and ceremony to usher in the new administration.
The sight of leaders from rival political parties joyfully hugging was the order of the day as their now forced to get along for the next five years.
Ramaphosa in fact made a clarion call to parties in the Government of National Unity urging them to put their policy differences aside.
This is also one of the major concerns expressed by hundreds of South Africans who packed the southern lawns at the union buildings observing the president's inauguration.
However, Democratic Alliance Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube, said that the unity government is more focused on getting the basics the right.
"So our real emphasis in the coming weeks is to make sure that we start pulling people out of poverty, we get people into work and in doing that we can find each other."
Some political parties like Rise Mzansi, Build One South Africa and the United Democratic Movement (UDM) have kept mum about their intentions to join the Government of National Unity.
Meanwhile, many are curious to see the composition of Ramaphos's soon to be announced cabinet.