Pretoria – The Union Buildings is a hive of activity this morning as more guests continue to pour in for the 2014 Presidential Inauguration.
The swearing-in ceremony is set to take place at 11am at the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre.
President-elect Jacob Zuma will be inaugurated as the country’s President for the next five years.
As early as 4am, buses carrying government officials and media started making their way to the Union Buildings, where they are being accommodated at the Amphitheatre and Southern Lawns.
Journalists have started filling up the media centre on the Southern Lawns, which has been fitted with equipment such as laptops and printers to assist them in carrying out their work.
A total of 4 500 invited guests will be accommodated at the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre, while 20 000 people will be accommodated on the Southern Lawns located between Church Street and Government Avenue.
Invited guests started to arrive at the Amphitheatre from 5am, while Heads of State/Government will arrive at the Union Buildings from 10.30am.
The inauguration ceremony will start with inter-faith prayers and a recital of the Preamble to the Constitution of South Africa preceding the swearing-in of the President by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.
The programme directors for the day are Minister of Justice Jeff Radebe and Deputy Secretary-General of the African National Congress, Jessie Duarte.
Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, leading South African artists from all genres, cultures and backgrounds are set to showcase their talent and entertain the crowd on the Southern Lawns.
The cultural programme will start at 8am, where artists including Selaelo Selota, Mafikizolo, Phuzekhemisi, Uhuru, Kurt Darren and DJ Oskido will strut their stuff at what is billed to be a momentous event. – SAnews.gov.za
