Inaugaration of President Jacob Zuma

Today heralds another historic moment in the movement towards a stable democracy in South Africa! In the midst of thunderstorms (generally seen as a sign of blessing) President Jacob Zuma took the oath of office at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. He is the 4th President to take office since the ANC won the first democratic elections in the history of the country in 1994. He gave accolades to his precedessors, Nelson Madiba Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and most recently in a caretaker role Kgalema Motlantle. Thr journey from being a revolutionary force attempting to depose the former apartheid regime to a ruling party has been steep and not without its failures. The reality of 4 peaceful transitions of power speaks strongly to the determination of a people desiring to fulfill the dream Madiba so eloquently represented as he walked to freedom along with his people.

The 22 April elections returned the ANC with a solid majority. The emergence of a break-away party however, The Congress of the People, caused significant consternation in the ANC and ensured they not take their position for granted. The Democratic Alliance won Western Cape and put Helen Zille in as Premier - the first white woman to hold such an office in the country.