Former president Nelson Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela, believes President Cyril Ramaphosa and his new cabinet is capable of picking up the baton from Madiba and improve the lives of ordinary South Africans
Michele Spatari / AFP
Mandela attended the inauguration of Ramaphosa at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria on Saturday.
"We are all very hopeful as South Africans, as we were in 1994, that a new dawn has set upon us,” said Mandela.
"Madiba is no longer with us, but I can assure you that he has left the baton for the next generation of leaders in South Africa, to pick up the baton where he has left off with his collective.
"The leadership is now vested upon us to carry on where they left off.
"I think my grandfather continues to have hope in this leadership of the ANC-led government to continue addressing the needs of our people."
The idea of a new dawn was echoed by Ramaphosa in his inaugural speech.
"A new era has dawned in our country. A brighter day is rising upon South Africa," said Ramaphosa.
"This is a defining moment for a young nation like ours. It is a time for us to make the future that we yearn for.”
Foreign heads of state from more than 40 countries were among 36,000 people who attended Saturday’s event.
