Cyril makes his move

DIVES INTO STORMY PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken off the gloves in the presidential contest in a scathing criticism of “the rot” and widespread patronage plaguing the ANC.

Ramaphosa stopped short of openly declaring his candidacy to succeed President Jacob Zuma, 75, on Sunday, but his address left no doubt that his campaign is now firmly under way. He made several thinly veiled attacks on Zuma, who’s indicated that he’s backing his ex-wife and mother of four of his children, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, for the top post.

Dlamini-Zuma, who has spent the past few weeks traversing the country drumming up support, took off early in the succession race while Ramaphosa has run a subdued campaign, said Ralph Mathekga, an analyst at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection.

“It’s becoming clear that he wants the position of party president,” Mathekga said. “He’s become more decisive and could inflict damage to the campaign of Zuma’s preferred candidate.”

Appointed as deputy president in 2014, Ramaphosa has spent much of his tenure defending the ANC in the face of a series of scandals implicating Zuma. But the dismissal of Pravin Gordhan as finance minister and junk status has changed all that.

In his Sunday speech at a memorial service for Chris Hani, Ramaphosa backed a recommendation by the former graft ombudsman that a judicial commission investigate if members of the Gupta family unduly benefited from state contracts and tried to influence cabinet appointments. Zuma and the Guptas have denied wrongdoing.

Mcebisi Jonas, the former deputy finance minister who alleged that the Guptas offered him a promotion, also spoke.

The ANC will hold its internal elections at a December conference in Johannesburg.

“Ramaphosa realizes that this is the moment to come out because there is general support for him and it comes in the context of anger and disappointment and people wondering why on earth he has not come out to declare his candidacy,” said Susan Booysen, a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Governance.

Ronnie Mamoepa, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, said he couldn’t comment on party matters.

Ramaphosa still faces many obstacles.

The killing of 34 protesters by police at Lonmin Plc’s Marikana platinum mine in 2012 following days of violent strike action dented his image.

While he called the labour action “dastardly criminal” in an email a day before shooting and urged police to take “concomitant action,” a commission of inquiry cleared him of wrongdoing. A company he led had a stake in the mine.

While Ramaphosa still needs to build his support base, the fact that he’s made it clear he’s in the race, should bolster his chances, according to Mathekga.

“People can see he is a real option,” he said. – Bloomberg

Ramaphosa realizes that this is the moment to come out because there is general support for him. Susan Booysen Professor at Wits’ School of Governance