By Blessing Chinagorom
The South African Government has concluded plan to swear-in President-elect, Cyril Ramaphosa as the 7th President of the Republic of South Africa on Wednesday June 19, 2024.
This was disclosed in a Press Briefing on Saturday which is in according with section 87 of the Constitution of Republic of South Africa prescribes that the President of the Republic must be sworn-in within 5 Days after his or her election by the National Assembly.
Ramaphosa was re-elected to serve a second term as the President due to the terms of the Constitution that National Assembly must, at its first sitting after its election, elect woman or man from among its members to be the President.
Ramaphosa after his first term as President was reelected with 283 votes against Julius Malema with 44 votes while the Constitution stated that when elected President, a person ceases to be a member of the National Assembly.
Recalled that the President, had on 2nd February 2024 appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to prepare for inauguration of the President, while this Committee is constituted by the Minister in the Presidency as the Chairperson among others.
The President-elect will be sworn-in by the Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, Justice Raymond Zondo at Union Buildings, Pretoria in the City of Tshwane and take an Oath or Affirmation which text is included in Schedule 2 of the Constitution. 
The ceremony will be staged in the Union Buildings Amphitheatre and its South Lawns. The amphitheater will host national and foreign dignitaries including Heads of State and Government.
Preparations have been made for South Africans to participate in the Inauguration Ceremony from Union Buildings Southern Lawns while ceremony will commence with an entertainment programme at 9 AM and the formal proceedings scheduled to commence at 11 AM.
The South African National Defence Force will perform the ceremonial elements of the Inauguration as they pledge their allegiance to both the Republic and the Commander-In -Chief.
The ceremonial elements will include, amongst others, a 21-gun salute, salute flight by the South African Air Force, Inspection of a South African National Defence Force battalion, a Battalion march past, and a massed fly past.
The newly sworn-in President of the Republic of South Africa will deliver Inaugural Address while a cultural programme will be hosted on the South Lawns of the Union Buildings and it will take place before the formal Inauguration ceremony commences.
This production will feature a combination of music genres and other cultural and artistic performances that will have a cross-over appeal that reflects SAfrica’s achievements in the past 30 years of its democracy.
While members of the public attending the occasion are also advised that the following items are forbidden at the event including at the South Lawns: Alcohol or drugs, Firearms or weapons and Bottles or cans.
Meanwhile, this Presidential Inauguration is an important feature in a year in which South Africa is marking 30 Years of Freedom under theme: “30 years of Democracy, Partnership and Growth”, which is also a theme of the inauguration.
The Inauguration will bring together South Africans from all backgrounds, walks of life and political orientation, united in diversity and offers occasion to celebrate democratic values, system of governance, including the agreed commitment of the body politic.
The theme brings perspective to South Africai past and the road of progress that the people have travelled since 1994 when Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela took his Oath of Office at the Union Buildings on 10 May as our first democratically elected President.
The theme for Inauguration 2024 conveys the need for all South Africans and partners to work together to sustain democracy, partnership and growth in the society.
The theme also emphasized the need to build on South Africa’s achievements since 1994, leverage on its experiences of the past 30 years and commit to work together to address the remaining challenges of poverty, inequality, and unemployment that still face the country.
