Ramaphosa expected to lift SA's mood in inauguration address

PRETORIA - Cyril Ramaphosa once again finds himself in the position of having to lift the mood of the country. 

With the myriad of challenges it faces, it's expected that the president-elect will want to inspire millions of South Africans that a second term for him will mean better days ahead.

Partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU) say they are ready to get stuck into the mammoth task that lies ahead.

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They will be looking to President Cyril Ramaphosa to give them their marching orders. 

Heather Thuynsma, senior political lecturer at the University of Pretoria, said that Wednesday was the true test of South Africa's future democracy. 

"It's a fundamental moment. It's also a maturing of South Africa's democracy because a democracy is only really considered a democracy after we’ve seen a transition of power from one party to another." 

Thuynsma expects Ramaphosa’s inaugural address to have the South African people at the centre of it. 

"It should be positive, it should be... Look there are challenges but we are willing to embrace it and see how we can solve these things."

Many ordinary South Africans are gathered on the lawns of the Union Buildings to hear the president's message.