Members of the public braved the cold morning in their blankets and scarves when gates opened as early as 3AM.
It was a jovial mood at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria as thousands of guests dressed to the nines trickled in ahead of the Presidential Inauguration on Saturday morning.
Despite at least 32 000 guests expected, parts of the capital seemed like a ghost town due to many road closures. Instead, the streets around Hatfield, Arcadia and Sunnyside were filled with men in blue as a heavy contingency of various police units and metro police officers were on guard. But there were those who arrived at midnight to wait for the opening of the accreditation centre. Victoria Maloka, from Pankop in Mpumalanga, said she spent the night in the capital, awaiting the opening of the stadium.
Dressed in a black and gold outfit, Tsonga music sensation and reality TV star Papa Penny was amongst the crowd. He said arrived at the park-and-ride depot at 3AM. Guests dressed in their different colourful African clothing got on their feet in dance when they were entertained by performances by the Tshwane Gospel Choir, Abathandwa Musical Group and Grammy-award winning groups Soweto Gospel Choir and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Security beefed up for Ramaphosa's presidential inaugurationAt least 2,500 officers have been deployed to Loftus Versveld Stadium in Pretoria where the inauguration will take place on Saturday.
Read more »
Is Bonang's House of BNG champagne sponsoring the presidential inauguration or nah?Inauguration2019 | Fikile Mbalula said there was no endorsement of the bubbly brand by government.
Read more »
Presidential inauguration - Here's what you need to knowIt's one day to go until president-elect Cyril Ramaphosa is inaugurated as head of state - Here's what you need to know
Read more »
Loftus ready for presidential inauguration after dry runAfter his inauguration, the president will be occupied with announcing his highly anticipated Cabinet, which is expected to happen on Sunday.
Read more »
Limpopo out in full force at presidential inaugurationAs Pretoria’s Loftus Stadium was filling up for Saturday’s inauguration of President-Elect Cyril Ramaphosa, among the first to take their seats were people from his home province of Limpopo
Read more »
Loftus stadium in Pretoria gears up for presidential inaugurationScores of South Africans and international dignitaries were making their way into Loftus Stadium ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration on Saturday morning.
Read more »
Loftus stadium in Pretoria gears up for presidential inaugurationRamaphosa is expected to deliver his speech around 11am and it will be preceded by live music and entertainment.
Read more »
WATCH LIVE | Cyril Ramaphosa's presidential inaugurationANC president Cyril Ramaphosa is being sworn in as South Africa's democratically elected president.
Read more »
DA snubs Cyril's 'jamboree', sends small delegation to presidential inaugurationThe party has criticised the government for spending millions of rand on the event while millions of South Africans are unemployed.
Read more »
Police minister confident ahead of Ramaphosa's inaugurationPolice minister Bheki Cele says he is very confident ahead of the presidential inauguration on Friday.
Read more »
Police minister confident ahead of Ramaphosa's inaugurationPolice minister Bheki Cele says he is very confident ahead of the presidential inauguration on Friday.
Read more »