South Africa has begun a “new era”, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced as he was sworn in for a second full term in office.
He remains in office even though his party, the African National Congress (ANC), failed to secure a majority in parliament during last month’s election.
The ANC subsequently made a deal with its long-time rival Democratic Alliance (DA) and other parties to form a coalition government.
Mr Ramaphosa hailed this government during his inauguration speech, but also warned that unless it addressed deep inequalities, the country could become unstable.
“Through the ballots that they have cast, the people of South Africa have made plain their expectation that the leaders of our country should work together,” President Ramaphosa, 71, said solemnly.
“They have directed their representatives to put aside animosity and dissent, to abandon narrow interests, and to pursue together only that which benefits the nation.”
Numerous heads of state, including Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Angola’s Joao Lourenco and Eswatini’s absolute leader King Mswati III, attended the inauguration at the Union Buildings in the capital, Pretoria.
A huge crowd gathered outside the official seat of government, waving national flags.
Shortly before his address, Mr Ramaphosa’s oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
“I swear I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa… I will obey, observe and uphold the constitution and all other laws of the republic,” the president said.
A band then played the national anthem. The rendition was followed by a 21-gun salute and a fly-past by army helicopters.
The ANC, which has governed since the end of the racist system of apartheid in 1994, lost its majority for the first time after the 29 May election produced no outright winner.
The party got 40% of the vote, a drop of 17 percentage points, and it lost 70 seats in parliament.
However lawmakers re-elected Mr Ramaphosa after the ANC made a power-sharing arrangement with the pro-business DA – who came second in the poll with 22% -and three smaller parties.
The coalition is a move to the political centre, because the ANC’s left-wing and populist breakaway parties rejected the invitation to join a national unity government.
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party formed six months ago by former President Jacob Zuma said its officials would not participate in the “farcical” inauguration.
The party, which won 15% of votes and obtained 58 parliamentary seats, also boycotted parliament’s first sitting last Friday.
Mr Ramaphosa is expected to appoint a cabinet in the coming days, which is to include his new coalition partners. Together, the coalition accounts for 68% of seats in parliament.
The president is also expected to set out an agenda to rescue the flailing economy.
Under his rule, South Africa’s economic performance has continued to suffer amid power cuts, rising crime and unemployment.
In Wednesday’s address, Mr Ramaphosa said the new government was committed to addressing these issues.
He told voters: “Today, I stand before you as your humble servant to say we have heard you.
“In this moment we must choose to move forward, to close the distances between South Africans and to build a more equal society.”
The coalition is also committed to pushing for rapid economic growth and countering widespread allegations of corruption, the president said.
The former trade unionist and business tycoon first became president in 2018 when his predecessor, Mr Zuma, was forced to resign because of corruption allegations. Mr Zuma has repeatedly denied these accusations.
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