Changing political landscapes: from Madiba in ’94 to Cyril today

In 1994 I voted for the first time in thirty years – in what marked the fall of apartheid and the arrival of democracy.

I have always looked forward to the day when a black president would take the reins of government from a regime of successive National Party leaders.

READ ALSO: Ramaphosa: Don’t be afraid of the GNU

That dream became a reality in 1994. Before Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa’s first democratically elected president on May 10, 1994, I had never set foot in the Union Buildings.

It was a building that I only compared to the headquarters of those who have oppressed the black masses for years. The report of Madiba’s inauguration prompted me to do so.

At the time I was filled with mixed feelings: I came to the Union Buildings, which I had previously avoided. Now it belonged to all South Africans, including me.

Madiba’s inauguration speech filled me with happiness and a sense of satisfaction: “at last the prayers of the oppressed have been answered.”

His conciliatory speech on nation-building – after he was sworn in by Chief Justice Michael Corbett – touched many, moving some, including myself, to tears. Amid Western and African pomp and circumstance, Mandela promised to “lead our country out of the valley of darkness”.

With dozens of heads of state and royalty from around the world, his inauguration was unprecedented in the country – if not worldwide.

The amphitheater was packed with political heavyweights: former US Vice President Al Gore and his wife Tipper, while former US First Lady Hillary Clinton led the delegation.

READ ALSO: Ramaphosa: I will be a president for everyone, not just some South Africans

The guest list was so ideologically diverse that it resembled Mandela’s dream of a rainbow nation. Finally, the gray-bearded Cuban president, Fidel Castro, in his olive green military uniform, arrived to the chant of “Viva Castro.”

Also present were former Israeli President Ezer Weizman and Yasser Arafat, who chaired the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Yesterday marked another milestone for South Africa: the inauguration of President Cyril Ramaphosa, following democratic elections that led to a multi-party government of national unity.

Like Madiba’s ceremony, there was the swearing-in ceremony and a presidential speech – promising to fulfill the ambitions of South Africans.

Given the different political circumstances, which led to a forced marriage between the ANC, the Democratic Alliance, the Inkatha Freedom Party and smaller parties, Ramaphosa seemed a worried man.

Although it was a moment to celebrate, the atmosphere was nothing like that of 1994.

With his speech, Ramaphosa sought to convince a politically polarized electorate that change is imminent, due to high youth unemployment and a country reeling from decades of corruption.