Leader of Build One South Africa (Bosa) party, Mmusi Maimane said the inauguration of the seventh administration under the government of national unity is worth celebrating, as it ushers a new era and trajectory for South Africa.
Maimane, the former leader of the Democratic Alliance, is heading back to the National Assembly alongside Nobuntu-Hlazo Webster after the new political outfit secured two seats, garnering 195,000 votes in the May 29 general election.
Maimane attended President Cyril Ramaphosa’s grand inauguration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday, where he told journalists that the occasion was an opportunity to free up the State to deliver on its mandate.
“South Africa is having a new experience. This is a first for all of us. The thing I am celebrating today is that we have moved from liberation politics. That is an important step. The next thing that we have to do now is go into governance politics – how do we ensure that we deliver? South Africa still faces some great difficulties, unemployment is high, kids are not educated and our citizens are not safe,” he said.
“The job we have got to do now is build a governing coalition going forward. I think we need to build a capable government and this moment is an opportunity to be able to free up the State to do its job. Coalitions are normal all over the world, the only way you safeguard against coalitions is to free the State from capture and actually allow director generals, police, healthcare workers to function at their best. That is the job we gotta do now.”
South Africans from all walks of life, foreign dignitaries and local and international media have braved the chilly morning, converging at the Union Buildings in Pretoria for the inauguration of President-elect Cyril Ramaphosa.
IOL reported earlier that security forces have appealed to attendees to abide with the law, and there is heavy police and military deployments around the venue.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJoints) said it has rolled out a water-tight integrated plan focusing on venue security, route, transport, traffic control, sea, land, airport, border, accommodation security as well as crowd management capabilities.
The plan which incorporates various government departments led by the SA Police Service (SAPS), SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and the State Security Agency (SSA) is currently being implemented in all corners of the Gauteng province, according to spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
IOL