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Tenth may dawned bright and clear. for the past few days i had been pleasantly besieged by dihnitaries and world leaders who were comin to pay their respects before the inauguration. the inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international leaders on south african soil. 

the ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatee formed by the union buildings in preta. for decades this had been the seat of white suprmacy, and now it was the site of a rainbow gathering of different colcurs and nations for the installation of south africa' s first democratic, non racial government. 

on that lovely autnmn day i was accompanied by my daughter zenani. on the podium, mr de klerk was first sworn in as second deputy presideni .then thabo mbeki was sworn in as first deputy president. wten it was my turn, i pledged to obey and uphold the constitution and to devote myself to the wall being of the republic and its people. to the assembled guests and the watching world, i said ;