Signs good for Ramaphosa

CYRIL Ramaphosa was sworn in as South Africa’s fifth president on Thursday after a dramatic 48 hours when the ruling ANC finally lost its patience with Jacob Zuma.

Its all-powerful National Executive Council put the final nail into Zuma’s political career, recalling him – and when he refused to budge put in motion the parliamentary processes to unseat him through a vote of no-confidence.

In the end, after an emotional and meandering television interview followed by a resignation that almost became an act of defiance, Zuma finally quit – and proved yet again how incredible our country is, how strong our democracy actually is in a continent blighted by the spectre of the Big Man and presidents-for-life.

Ramaphosa underscored this even further. Starting with a run on a Cape Town promenade, posing for pictures with ordinary citizens, he then took the oath of office with a promise to be the servant of the people and respect the traditions and import of Parliament by regularly attending, participating and, most importantly, answering questions. Last night he spelt out his vision for this country in that House.

From ordinary citizens to international bankers, there is an incredible expectation that South Africa will be properly run, that the kleptocrats will not just be booted out, but put in the dock and punished and that finally we can start achieving our nation’s potential.

Ramaphosa has done much to justify this, saying the right things, allowing organs of state to operate without fear or favour – cracking down on some of the most egregious alleged architects of state capture. His next great test will be in whom he selects to form his new cabinet to take forward his vision of a country we once glimpsed more than two decades ago, but which has ever since become increasingly obscured in the mists of venality and greed.

Thus far, there is every indication that he will succeed. We look forward to this new era and bid adieu to the end of an error.