South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead the African National Congress (ANC) toward its biggest test when South Africans go to the polls on Tuesday. Ramaphosa took on the presidency in 2018 and survived a misconduct scandal to be re-elected to the ANC’s helm in 2022.
Ramaphosa’s struggles to improve South Africa’s economy
He has struggled to lift economic growth, make a dent in high unemployment, and end crippling power cuts. Currently, estimates suggest that one-third of South Africans are jobless. Voters are expected to punish the ANC for this at the polls. If the party loses its majority for the first time in 30 years, some political analysts say Ramaphosa will be unlikely to seek a second term.
Ramaphosa was the ANC’s lead negotiator during talks that led to a peaceful end to apartheid. This enabled Nelson Mandela to become South Africa’s first Black president in 1994’s all-race vote. He also played an important role in the drafting of South Africa’s progressive constitution.
Despite his evident gifts, Ramaphosa gave up politics in 1996 and entered business. Some say he was pushed by Mandela’s protege and eventual successor, former President Thabo Mbeki. Ramaphosa withdrew from politics under Mbeki and set up an investment vehicle called Shanduka. This means “change” in the language of his Venda people.
Benefitting from Black Economic Empowerment
Shanduka grew into one of the biggest Black-owned investment vehicles in South Africa. Ramaphosa was one of the main beneficiaries of the ANC’s policy of Black Economic Empowerment. Critics say this led to people with ANC connections acquiring assets at knock-down prices.
Ramaphosa started winding down his business interests in 2012 when he became the ANC’s No. 2 official under former President Jacob Zuma. He replaced Zuma as ANC leader in 2017 vowing to rid the ruling party of graft and revitalise the economy.
Ramaphosa’s struggle with scandals
But just as he was about to start campaigning for his second term as party chief, he faced calls to quit after an advisory panel found preliminary evidence that he may have violated the constitution over a large amount of cash found hidden in furniture at his game farm.
He has denied wrongdoing but his reputation has taken a hit from the incident.
With inputs from Reuters
