Motlanthe sworn in as South African President

SOUTH AFRICA: The deputy leader of South Africa’s ruling party, Kgalema Motlanthe, was sworn in Thursday as the nation’s third President since the end of apartheid, following a bruising internal power struggle.

Motlanthe won 269 of the 360 votes cast in a secret ballot and gave his oath of office before the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Pius Langa, shortly after winning election in Parliament.

“I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa, and will obey, observe, uphold and maintain the constitution and all other law of the republic,” he said, in reading out the oath.

Motlanthe will guide the country toward elections next year while aiming to bridge the gaping divide within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

AFP