South Africa Elects Cyril Ramaphosa As Its New President : Parallels : NPR
Cyril Ramaphosa
South Africa Elects Cyril Ramaphosa  As Its New President
 Cyril Ramaphosa  has waited for this moment a long time.
Following Thursday's vote in the National Assembly   Ramaphosa  took words of praise from supporters and overt electoral threats from opposition leaders â then stood at the same podium where  22 years ago   he  shepherded the ratification of South Africa's constitution.
 Ramaphosa  promised to "continue to improve the lives of our people " and said  he  would "work very hard to try to not disappoint the people of South Africa."
It was a clear indication  he  plans to take the country in a different direction from  his  predecessor. On Friday night   Ramaphosa  will deliver  his  first State of the Nation Address  which  he  said would outline  his  plans to fight corruption in the country.
It's a speech  he  will have waited decades to give.
[TGT] As  [TGT] 
has waited for this moment a long time.
Following Thursday's vote in the National Assembly    [TGT] took words of praise from supporters and overt electoral threats from opposition leaders â then stood at the same podium where  22 years ago    [TGT]   shepherded the ratification of South Africa's constitution.
 Ramaphosa  promised to "continue to improve the lives of our people " and said  he  would "work very hard to try to not disappoint the people of South Africa."
It was a clear indication  he  plans to take the country in a different direction from  his  predecessor. On Friday night   Ramaphosa  will deliver  his  first State of the Nation Address  which  he  said would outline  his  plans to fight corruption in the country.
It's a speech  he  will have waited decades to give.