Former diplomat salutes new ANC president
CYRIL Ramaphosa’s victory as the new ANC president has been heralded in New Zealand as “a major righting of the South African ship” by me, the first post-apartheid Mandela-appointed diplomat to New Zealand.
I have been critical of President Jacob Zuma’s disregard for the constitution and publicly called for Zuma to stand down.
I told him in May: “Now is the time for courageous leadership, for leadership in the interest of all South Africans. This is not a storm that we can ride out by default. The highest office of our land continues to fail its people, there can be no impunity. It’s time to go.”
I said Ramaphosa had the opportunity to once again focus on Madiba’s dream of a “better life for all”, instead of building personal palaces and allowing the state to be captured.
As a supporter of President Zuma in 2007, I wish him well in his future endeavours. I bear him no malice.
I urge Ramaphosa to find a senior place for Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma as an exceptionally talented leader in a tough male-dominated world.
I do not just admire Cyril as a contemporary who fought for the rights of the marginalised and the vulnerable workers in the 1980s, but, more importantly, I am excited about that young vibrant Christian student leader who I know will lead with humble integrity as he pursues justice for all.
The fact that the markets will be happy is a bonus, but not the be all and end all – doing the right thing is more important.
I wish to remind president Ramaphosa of Madiba’s words when he opened the Constitutional Court on February 14, 1995.
“Today I rise not as an accused, but on behalf of the people of South Africa, to inaugurate a court South Africa has never had, a court on which hinges the future of our democracy.
“We expect you to stand on guard, not only against direct assault on the principles of the constitution, but against insidious corrosion.”
His words will echo down through the ages.
God Bless Cyril Ramaphosa. God Bless Africa and all its peoples. Gregory Fortuin Salvation Army’s national director for education and employment in New Zealand