Cyril Ramaphosa was inaugurated for a second full term as President of South Africa in Pretoria on Wednesday, following a coalition agreement by his weakened African National Congress (ANC). Chief Justice Raymond Zondo administered the oath of office before lawmakers, foreign dignitaries, and supporters at the Union Buildings.

“In the presence of everyone assembled here, and in full realisation of the high calling I assume as President… I, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, swear that I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa,” Ramaphosa declared.

Last week, lawmakers overwhelmingly re-elected the 71-year-old leader after a general election on May 29 failed to produce a clear winner. Several heads of state, including Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Angola’s Joao Lourenco, attended the ceremony.

The event saw VIPs and guests arriving early amid heavy police presence, with some singing anti-apartheid struggle songs. A band played the national anthem following Ramaphosa’s oath, with a 21-gun salute and a flyover by army helicopters displaying South African flags.

This marks Ramaphosa’s third oath-taking since first assuming office in 2018, following the ouster of his predecessor Jacob Zuma. Despite his initial promises of a new dawn for South Africa, Ramaphosa’s tenure has been marred by economic struggles, widespread crime, and high unemployment.

In the recent elections, the ANC saw its support drop to 40%, down from 57.5% five years earlier. For the first time since 1994, the ANC lost its absolute majority in parliament, forcing it to seek coalition partners. The ANC has since formed a national unity government with the centre-right Democratic Alliance (DA), the Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party, the anti-immigration Patriotic Alliance, and the centre-left GOOD party.

This coalition enabled Ramaphosa to fend off a last-minute challenge by leftist politician Julius Malema, securing 283 votes in the 400-seat National Assembly. However, the coalition has faced criticism from the left, with Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters and former president Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) denouncing the inclusion of right-wing parties and the DA.

Ramaphosa is expected to announce his cabinet soon, as coalition negotiations continue.