Former president and uMkhonto weSizwe leader Jacob Zuma will miss Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidential inauguration for the second time.
Ramaphosa will be inaugurated at the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Wednesday as he was duly elected president of South Africa during the first sitting of the National Assembly last Friday.
Jacob Zuma to miss the presidential inauguration again
In a statement, the MK Party said it refuses to join in the spitting of the graves of those who died for South Africa’s freedom.
The party said Ramaphosa’s presidency resulted from a sellout deal signed by ANC SG Fikile Mbalula and Helen Zille last week. It also cited the discrepancies in the 29 May polls and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) system.
“We call on all those who cherish true freedom, real democracy, and our current Constitution to distance themselves from being forced to celebrate their continued oppression under the guise of the DA-ANC coalition,” MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said.
“How can we celebrate when the ANC has signed another deal with the Freedom Front Plus to recognise and protect Orania? By doing so, the ANC surrendered a part of our country and continent to unrepentant racists to secure the position of premier for Zamani Saul,” Ndhlela asked.
Former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Mothlanthe are expected to attend along with other heads of states from the African continent and abroad.
Ramaphosa was inaugurated in May 2019, but Zuma did not attend.
He said he was in and out of court trying to “stay out of jail.”
Addressing his supporters at the time, Zuma said that if they don’t see him participating in certain things, they should know that he is busy.
“Tomorrow, the president is being inaugurated, and there will be dignitaries and presidents. As they are inaugurating him, I am in jail. I don’t have time to go there because I am busy here, trying to stay out of jail,” he said.
Despite not finishing his second term, former president Thabo Mbeki attended Zuma’s inaugurations in 2009 and 2014.
Today South Africa inaugurates the seventh democratic President, H.E Cyril Ramaphosa! This marks the beginning of the seventh administration and the President’s term of office. #SAInauguration2024 #PresidentialInauguration2024 pic.twitter.com/70bmgNyX1y
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) June 19, 2024
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will also miss the presidential inauguration as its leader Julius Malema is at the East London Magistrate’s Court.
Malema faces charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and three counts of contravening the Firearms Control Act.
Malema allegedly discharged a rifle at an EFF rally in 2018 at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, went viral on social media at the time. He said the sounds of gunshots happened to coincide with fireworks.
In other top stories
Political parties have expressed mixed views on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s key submissions to South Africans as he begins his final term in public office.
On Wednesday, Ramaphosa was sworn in as head of state during his inauguration ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
During his speech, the president made a call to all parties in the Government of National Unity to put their policy differences aside to deliver basic services to South Africans.
Different political organizations
However, some political organisations believe Ramaphosa still needs to take the nation into confidence that the 7th administration will get the basics right.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), which is no longer an opposition party in parliament, fermented itself over the years as the African National Congress’s (ANC) government political watchdog.
But the party’s confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa has seemingly grown since it officially joined the government unity last week.
