Thabo Mbeki became South Africa's second post-apartheid President today, taking over this still racially divided country from Nelson Mandela, the man who, with unerring grace, steered it through a peaceful transition out of white supremacy. Moments after Mr. Mbeki took the oath of office in Tswana, English and Afrikaans, the 80-year-old Mr. Mandela embraced his successor and then both men turned and clasped hands high over their heads as the crowd roared its approval.
In his speech, Mr. Mbeki, 56, sounded many of the themes he has become known for, promising that change would come faster now for the millions of South Africans who live in dire poverty. But he also paid tribute to the freedom fighters who came before him, including Mr. Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison for his belief that he and other black South Africans should have the right to vote. Mr. Mbeki called on all South Africans, black and white, to continue to work together for the rebirth of the country, made possible by ''the realization that we share a common destiny, regardless of the shapes of our noses.'' ''Our nights cannot but be nights of nightmares while millions of our people live in degrading poverty,'' he said. ''Sleep cannot come easily when children get permanently disabled, both physically and mentally, because of a lack of food.''
The transition from Mr. Mandela to Mr. Mbeki has lacked the giddy excitement of the 1994 election. But South Africans are reveling in its ordinariness. In 1994 many whites stocked up on canned foods or took ''strategic vacations.'' By contrast, today's ceremonies competed for attention with a soccer match and the national marathon. The inauguration ceremony, attended by hundreds of foreign dignitaries, was in some ways austere, taking only about an hour. But it was not without its glitches.
After Mr. Mbeki took the oath of office, five jets flew overhead, leaving a rainbow-colored smoke trail. Then three helicopters passed by, pulling huge South African flags. Then a Mirage fighter roared past, painted as the South African flag. When nothing further appeared, the master of ceremonies invited Mr. Mbeki to begin his speech. He protested, saying there were more planes to come. But the emcee insisted. When he was well into his address, three 747's finally thundered over, low and slow, drowning him out. The two outer planes bore messages painted under their wings. One said, ''President Thabo Mbeki.'' The other said, ''Thank you, Madiba,'' using Mr. Mandela's clan name.
Mr. Mandela, who did not speak during the ceremony, has said he is looking forward to retirement and in particular to spending more time with his grandchildren. But his wife, Graca Machel, said recently that she doubted he could sit still for long. The South Africa that Mr. Mbeki will inherit has changed a great deal in the last five years. More than 500,000 new houses were built, and electricity, telephone lines and water taps have been installed in millions of homes. But some critics have said that Mr. Mandela was more of a hero figure, focusing on reconciliation, than an administrator, focusing on rebuilding a country that systematically kept the black majority in poverty. The country is still plagued by high crime, joblessness, poor schools and a climbing AIDS rate. Nor has racial reconciliation been easy. Some South Africans believe that the country is more polarized then ever, as whites see their privileges diminishing and blacks say change is not coming fast enough for them.
Mr. Mbeki, who has an economics degree from Sussex University in England, has made it clear that he will turn his attention to uplifting the poor. He is seen as an able administrator -- far less forgiving than Mr. Mandela, who some said tended to console ministers who had failed in a job rather than tell them off.
The ceremony today did not include the swearing-in of a deputy president, as it did in 1994, because one has not been chosen. The job appears to have been offered to the leader of the Zulu-nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi. The move is intended to promote peace between Inkatha and the governing African National Congress. But Chief Buthelezi is said to be unhappy with changes that Mr. Mbeki announced last week, which will greatly reduce the powers of the job. Negotiations are continuing. South Africans are also waiting to see whom Mr. Mbeki will include in his Cabinet, which he is expected to announce on Thursday. While Mr. Mandela's Cabinet was a carefully chosen quilt of diverse South Africans, meant to unify a country that has 11 languages and an often violent history, Mr. Mbeki has said he will put far more emphasis on competence.
Today's ceremonies were not without controversy. Statues of apartheid-era heroes that are scattered on the lawn of the Union Building, where the ceremonies were held, were draped in green sackcloth. Officials have given various reasons, at one point saying the statues were being hidden so as not to detract from the ''ecstasy'' of the occasion. The subject has kept radio talk shows in business for days, with callers either applauding the idea or saying that the country should never forget its history. There has also been some debate about the $8 million price tag for the ceremony and free concert lasting all afternoon and into the night on the lawn in front of the buildings. ''They shouldn't have spent the money,'' said Ernest Nhlapo, 17, who nevertheless was in attendance. ''They should build homes and create more jobs.'' But his friend Claudio Bowker, 16, disagreed. ''We deserve it,'' he said. ''This doesn't happen often. It's only the second time we had such a ceremony.'' Samson Malaka, 24, a student at the University of Pretoria, said the money had been well spent because the world was watching, so it was good marketing. ''It's an occasion of great magnitude,'' he said. ''We should portray to the world that we are capable of such an occasion.''
Almost the entire celebratory crowd on the Union Building lawn was black, which troubled Stanley Sidimela, 25, a welfare worker there. ''We want to live with the whites, Indians and Coloreds, but to our surprise they are not appreciating the new Government,'' he said. ''We don't know how to draw them in so we can celebrate with them. They built these buildings, which helped us. But we don't like their leaving the country -- we want to share its wealth together.'' Part of the reason for the crowd's makeup was the music, which included South Africa's best jazz, gospel, kwaito and township jive acts, including Hugh Masekela, Brenda Fassie, Rebecca Malope, Bonga'maffin and Boom Shaka. As part of Mr. Mbeki's African Renaissance theme, the organizers also invited many of Africa's best musicians, like Angelique Kidjo and Papa Wemba. Local acts that draw white audiences, like Springbok Nude Girls or Nico Carstens, were not on the stage.
A group of young women, all studying to be paralegals at the Pretoria Technikon, led the center of the crowd in a circular dance. ''We're here to party and to meet people,'' said Thandi Nkomo, 18, ''But I liked Mbeki's speech. It was short, but it had meaning.'' Mathabo Kgolumo, 21, said seeing the bookish new President speak ''gives us self-confidence, and it also improves our vocabulary.''
The only icon that was more ubiquitous in the crowd than African National Congress T-shirts was a pink sticker saying, ''Safe Sex Save Lives -- Use a Condom.'' Tina Magongwa and Gladys Mamosadi of the Mohau Children's Care Center were slapping the stickers as fast as they could on anyone who walked by. South Africa has the world's fastest-growing AIDS epidemic, largely because it was fatally slow to begin serious AIDS education programs. ''Almost no one says no,'' Mrs. Magongwa, 38, said. '''A few say, 'No, don't give me that; I will get AIDS from it,' but they are just ignorant.'' The women were also handing out condoms -- just about the only thing being given out free at the concert.
Source: New York Times
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