South Africa - Zuma inauguration

Zuma sworn in as South Africa's President

Article published on the 2009-05-09 Latest update 2009-05-09 11:27 TU

Traditional dancers perform before the inauguration of Jacob Zuma
(Photo: Reuters)

Jacob Zuma has been sworn in as the fourth President of South Africa since the end of apartheid 15 years ago. The inauguration ceremony mixed traditional African elements with helicopter and airplane flypast.

Onlookers shelter under umbrellas before the ceremony
(Photo: Reuters)

Rain failed to stop play, with heavy showers shortly before the ceremony but a clear sky as Zuma took the oath, declaring that he would serve the interests of the nation in accord with his conscience.

The country's first post-election President, Nelson Mandela, was present at the ceremony, having endorsed Zuma's candidacy, after a split in the ranks of the ruling African National Congress. So was Zuma's predecessor Thabo Mbeki, who fired him as Vice-President before the division in the party's ranks.

Traditional dancers performed before the ceremony, which took place in the Unon Buildings in Pretoria, the country's seat of power.

The oath was followed by a traditional praise-singer and a flypast by helicopters bearing the South African flag, floowed by fighter planes.

In his speech at the ceremony, Zuma paid tribute to Mandela, describing his ascendancy to the presidency as "one of the greatest historic moments of our country, African and the African diaspora".

Zuma also spoke of the struggle against apartheid and promised to lead the country as a multiracial state for South Africans "black and white", based on mutual respect. He called for respect of cultural and religious differences and the freedom of the media.

Zuma comes to power with the support of the ANC's left and the trade unions and will face the challenge of providing jobs and fighting poverty. Referring to "a difficult economic time", he pledged to tackle death from preventable diseases, unemployment and discrimination against women.

"We are now called upon to implement our manifesto," he said. "Everything we do must contribute in a direct and meaningful way to an improvement in othe lives of our people."