CYRIL RAMAPHOSA OFFICIALLY SWORN IN AS NEW PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA.
THE NEW PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA: President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa
Maleka Charles
It was a storm of warm tittery laughter and joy amongst the members of parliament Thursday Afternoon, as Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa was officially sworn in as the new president of the Republic of South Africa, Cape Town.
President Ramaphosa sworn in by Chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, became the fifth democratic president of South Africa, following the anticipated step down of the former president Jacob Zuma, Wednesday, night.
PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA FINALLY STEPS DOWN.
“I Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa swear that I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa, I will obey, observe, uphold and maintain the constitution and all other laws of the Republic.”
“And I solemnly and sincerely promise that I will always promote all that will advance the republic and oppose all that may harm it, protect and promote the rights of all South Africans, discharge my duty with all my strength and talents to the best of my knowledge.”
“And ability and true to the dictates of my conscient and do justice to all and do justice to the wellbeing of the republic and all of its people.” Ramaphosa said.
In his speech during the State of the National address in Cape Town, Friday President Ramaphosa promised to create jobs for young people and build factories, roads and houses for the poor.
“We are a nation at one, we are one people committed to work together to find jobs for our youths, to build factories and roads, houses and clinics to prepare our children to the world of change and progress, to build cities and towns where families may be safe, productive and they may be content.”
In relation to job creation the President said the government will commence a summit in the next few months with the private business sectors to assist in creating jobs for young people in South Africa.
“We are going to embark on a number of measures to address the unemployment challenge, one of the initiatives we will embark on is to convene a job summit within the next few months to align the efforts of every sector and every stakeholder behind the imperative of job creation.”
The president said small businesses should play a pivotal role in growing the economy of the country, and create jobs, and that the government will set aside at least 30 percent of public procurement to small and medium business.
“The growth of our economy will be sustained by small businesses as is the case in the number of the country around the world.”
“It is our sheer responsibility to grow this vital sector of the economy, we will work with our social partners to build a small business support eco system that assist that also nourishes and promotes entrepreneurs.”
“Government will honor its undertaking to set aside at least 30 percent of public procurement to small and medium enterprises to cooperatives, to township and rural enterprise.”
President Ramaphosa urged the people of South Africa to make full advantage of the rapid technology change.
“We will soon establish a digital industrial revolution commission which will include the private sector and civil society to ensure that our country is in a position to seize the opportunities and manage the challenges of rapid advances in information and communication technology.”
The president also said agriculture in South Africa plays a significant role in creating jobs and growing the economy of South Africa.
He urged the South Africans to promote tourism in the country as it continues to grow the economy of the country.
“I call on all South Africans to open their hearts, to open their rondavels as well, to open their arms as well to welcome visitors from all round the world, let us make South Africa the real hub of tourism in the whole world.”
Ramaphosa lastly promised to visit the national departments to make sure they put to effect the job the government has promised to do for its people.
“During the course of the next few months I will visit every national department to engage with the senior leadership of all our government departments, to ensure that the work of the government is effectively aligned.”
“I will also find time to meet provincial and local government leaders to ensure that the states and its entirety responds to the pressing needs of our people.”
The president also promised to work together with other political leaders to help change South Africa.
