2019年CRI South Africa's Ramaphosa sworn in

 

South Africa's newly elected president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has been officially inaugurated for a new five-year term.

Ramaphosa is vowing¹ to tackle corruption² and create jobs in a bid to try to revitalize South Africa's sluggish³ economy.

"I assume the President of the Republic of South Africa. I, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, swear that I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa and will obey, observe, uphold and maintain the Constitution and all laws of the Republic."

In front of over 30-thousand enthusiastic supporters at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Cyril Ramaphosa has officially taken the oath-of-office, kicking off his five-year term as the President of South Africa.

In his inauguration⁴ speech, Ramaphosa admits that South Africa finds itself in a difficult position, 25 years after the end of the apartheid.

The African National Congress leader says it will be his mission to take concrete and timely action to solve the problems facing his country.

"Despite our most earnest efforts, many South Africans still go to bed hungry, many succumb⁵ to diseases that can be treated, many live lives of intolerable deprivation⁶. Too many of our people do not work especially the youth. The challenges that we face are huge and real. But they are not insurmountable. They can be solved. And we are going to solve them."

The ANC won this year's election with 57.5-percent of the parliamentary vote, its worst performance since taking power 25 years ago.

Despite the lackluster showing at the polls, Ramaphosa contends the ANC is still well-equipped to continue to lead the country forward.

"Through the irrefutable power of the ballot⁷ on 8 May, South Africans declared the dawn of a new era. They have chosen hope over hopelessness, they have opted⁸ for unity⁹ over conflict and divisions. South Africans want action and not just words and promises. And there will be action. It is through our actions now that we will give form to the society for which so many have fought and sacrificed and for which all of us yearn¹⁰."

Heads of state from over 40 countries have attended the inauguration.

This is the first time that the inauguration ceremony has taken place outside the Union Buildings - the official seat of the South African Government.

That is where Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa's first post-apartheid, black President in 1994.

In making the switch, the ANC says it chose Loftus Versfeld Stadium simply to accommodate more people who were eager to take part in the inaugural¹¹ celebrations.

1 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

4 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

5 succumb   

v.屈服，屈从；死

参考例句：

• They will never succumb to the enemies.他们决不向敌人屈服。
• Will business leaders succumb to these ideas?商业领袖们会被这些观点折服吗？

6 deprivation   

n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困

参考例句：

• Many studies make it clear that sleep deprivation is dangerous.多实验都证实了睡眠被剥夺是危险的。
• Missing the holiday was a great deprivation.错过假日是极大的损失。

7 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

8 opted   

v.选择，挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was co-opted onto the board. 她获增选为董事会成员。
• After graduating she opted for a career in music. 毕业后她选择了从事音乐工作。

9 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

10 yearn   

v.想念；怀念；渴望

参考例句：

• We yearn to surrender our entire being.我们渴望着放纵我们整个的生命。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。

11 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。