SA set to celebrate inauguration

2009-01-19 14:17

Verashni Pillay

Johannesburg - "For at least the last eight years I've felt sort of embarrassed to tell people I'm American," said Cape Town strategy analyst Marisa. "And now it's this feeling of relief that I no longer have to worry about telling people I'm American or embarrassed to say it!"

But it's not just Americans abroad who are celebrating president-elect Barak Obama's inauguration. Washington DC is expecting three to four million visitors - more than six times what the previous inauguration drew, retired US diplomat, J Brooks Spector, told News24.

"It's a national celebration of a new administration and it's a historic event in its own right," he said,

The inauguration on January 20 has generated excitement across the world, including South Africa.

Extreme excitement

"There are a lot of South Africans who are extremely excited about it; in part because he is a dynamic, interesting, energetic president-elect, in part because some of his ancestry is from this continent and in part because of his ethnic and racial background," said Spector, who has served in the American Foreign Service for 31 years.

And while most South Africans wanting to witness the inauguration will be gathered around their television sets on Tuesday evening, those who have the cash and inclination can attend an "African celebration" at the Montecasino ballroom in Johannesburg. Tickets are R1 000.

Organisers include the American Chamber of Commerce as well as Democrats and Republicans Abroad SA, who are coming together in a rare show of unity.

Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs will address American expats and South Africans, before they all watch a live broadcast of the official ceremonies in Washington DC.

In it, Obama and vice-president-elect Joseph Biden will take their oaths of office and Obama will give his inaugural address as America's new president

TV coverage

South Africans can tune in on SABC2, which will have a live crossing from 18:00 until 20:30 on Tuesday, according to TVSA.

eTV's Tuesday night Prime Time News will do a live crossing at 19:00 - which is when the actual swearing in takes place - while eNews will cross over at 18:30.

For those with DSTV decoders, CNN begins its coverage from Capitol Hill at 12:00, which continues after the inauguration with live coverage of the ten official inaugural balls and a special edition of Larry King Live from the Washington, DC bureau at 07:00 the next day.

However one place that won't be joining in the celebrations - officially at least - are US embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions.

"We are sworn to bipartisanship so if the mission itself was to officially celebrate the victory of one party over the another it would be very hard to say we're being even-handed," said Cape Town US consulate spokesperson, Mark Canning.

Republicans Abroad SA chairperson, Brian Scott Robinson, acknowledged the great excitement around Obama's new administration but cautioned against unrealistic expectations.

"Many in Africa have the belief that with the election of Obama a new golden age of American funding and support for African initiatives will begin," he said. "I believe that current initiatives will be maintained but there is no funding available for expanded overseas initiatives that are not directly tied to national security concerns.

"Obama's primary focus must be stabilising the domestic economy, and this will take several years to accomplish.

Finally president

But that won't stop millions from celebrating as Obama is sworn in to lead the world's most powerful nation.

"We've been talking about it for so long and it's been occupying our conversations and thoughts - I'm just so glad it's finally here," said Marisa, one of many Americans in South Africa celebrating from afar.

"It's going to be real and he's actually going to be president."

- News24