As the editors of Rethinking Marxism put it: "it is the fate of print academic journals always to be a bit behind in their commentary of the events of the day" (2011: 297). I cannot agree more. Angled from the perspective of the sixth general elections in South Africa, this editorial commentary through the prism of the inauguration of the president is ex post facto. It is now seven months after these important events took place (elections and the inauguration of the president), which for reasons of history, are worth reflection as they instantiated an important moment in the evolution of the post-apartheid South Africa. For the first time since the inception of the democratic dispensation in South Africa, an inauguration of the President was held in a stadium. Many members of the public took part in the festivities. An attempt to cut costs was mentioned as a reason for this. However, the symbolism of the arrangement pulled