South Africa’s President Ramaphosa promises 'new dawn' for the nation

NewsBharati 17-Feb-2018

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Cape Town, January 17: While South Africa’s ex-President Jacob Zuma had to step down due to corruption charges, the new President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged to tackle corruption, unemployment, and inequality on his second day of office. New South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has spoken of a "new dawn" in his first State of the Nation address.

"We are determined to build a society defined by decency and integrity, that does not tolerate the plunder of public resources, nor the theft by corporate criminals of the hard-earned savings of ordinary people," he said. "This is the year in which we will turn the tide of corruption in our public institutions."

He invoked the memory and message of great leader Nelson Mandela. “It is a new dawn that is inspired by our collective memory of Nelson Mandela and the changes that are unfolding. We will build a new nation and confront the injustices of the past and the inequalities of the present.”

Within 24 hours of former President Jacob Zuma’s resignation, Cyril Ramaphosa head of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), has been sworn in as South Africa's president. He was elected unopposed in the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon.

The former president’s nine-year-long rule came to an end on Wednesday. Though he was reluctant to come down a possibility of the no-confidence vote almost pushed him to resign. After his resignation, Ramaphosa was automatically elected. As ANC has a majority in parliament, the vote was to serve a constitutional purpose only.

South Africa Jacob Zuma African National Congress Cyril Ramaphosa