<p> <br />Former South African leader Nelson Mandela, considered a symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle, attended the presidential inauguration ceremony, in a huge political coup for Zuma. <br /><br />Zuma, 67, taking the oath of office before heads of state was unthinkable during turbulent years when graft and rape charges nearly ruined him, crises that might have buried many politicians. <br /><br />While Zuma promised to help South Africans realise their dreams, he took a sober view of the country’s economy which may already be in its first recession in 17 years. <br /><br />“We must acknowledge that we find ourselves in difficult economic times. Jobs are being lost in every economy across the world,” Zuma said in his inauguration speech. <br /><br />“We will not be spared the negative impact, and are beginning to feel the pinch.” <br /><br />During the ceremony, air force jets flew over the presidential offices where Zuma will have to make tough decisions. <br /><br />He must juggle the interests of union and communist allies who helped him rise to the top, and foreign investors who fear he will steer the economy left. <br /><br />The charismatic politician won a wide mandate to lead with a ruling African National Congress (ANC) landslide victory in the April 22 election. <br /><br />South Africans respect the ANC for its long anti-apartheid struggle but they are growing impatient with rampant poverty and crime which Zuma has promised to tackle. <br /><br />Investors are eager to see who forms his economic team and are especially interested in the fate of respected Finance Minister Trevor Manuel.<br /><br />Stacking the cabinet, to be named on Sunday, with loyalists could hurt the credibility of Zuma, who has said ANC officials should not expect positions just because of their loyalty.<br /><br />Hindu prayers <br /><br />‘Om Bhur Bhuvah Swah’ reverberated all over as chanting of the sacred Gayatri Mantra marked the commencement of the inauguration of the president in the “rainbow nation” with a large Indian population.<br /><br />Prayers of Christian, Muslim and African traditional faiths followed.</p>
<p> <br />Former South African leader Nelson Mandela, considered a symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle, attended the presidential inauguration ceremony, in a huge political coup for Zuma. <br /><br />Zuma, 67, taking the oath of office before heads of state was unthinkable during turbulent years when graft and rape charges nearly ruined him, crises that might have buried many politicians. <br /><br />While Zuma promised to help South Africans realise their dreams, he took a sober view of the country’s economy which may already be in its first recession in 17 years. <br /><br />“We must acknowledge that we find ourselves in difficult economic times. Jobs are being lost in every economy across the world,” Zuma said in his inauguration speech. <br /><br />“We will not be spared the negative impact, and are beginning to feel the pinch.” <br /><br />During the ceremony, air force jets flew over the presidential offices where Zuma will have to make tough decisions. <br /><br />He must juggle the interests of union and communist allies who helped him rise to the top, and foreign investors who fear he will steer the economy left. <br /><br />The charismatic politician won a wide mandate to lead with a ruling African National Congress (ANC) landslide victory in the April 22 election. <br /><br />South Africans respect the ANC for its long anti-apartheid struggle but they are growing impatient with rampant poverty and crime which Zuma has promised to tackle. <br /><br />Investors are eager to see who forms his economic team and are especially interested in the fate of respected Finance Minister Trevor Manuel.<br /><br />Stacking the cabinet, to be named on Sunday, with loyalists could hurt the credibility of Zuma, who has said ANC officials should not expect positions just because of their loyalty.<br /><br />Hindu prayers <br /><br />‘Om Bhur Bhuvah Swah’ reverberated all over as chanting of the sacred Gayatri Mantra marked the commencement of the inauguration of the president in the “rainbow nation” with a large Indian population.<br /><br />Prayers of Christian, Muslim and African traditional faiths followed.</p>