<p>By Zikhona Masala</p>
<p>It was a funeral service that will forever be on the minds and hearts of those that attended and watched. Thousands of <a href="http://cnbc.africa/category/insights/winnie-madikizela-mandela/">Winnie Madikizela-Mandela</a>’s children painted Orlando Stadium green, yellow and red on Saturday. Politicians, ordinary people, supermodels and heads of state from all over the world came to give testimony to this great leader whose impact was felt across the world. They came to bid farewell to the struggle icon popularly known as the Mother of The Nation, a towering and courageous figure who fought against oppression in South Africa and continued to be an advocate for the downtrodden until her last breath on the 2nd of April 2018. The mood was a highly celebratory one, leaving little room for a sombre atmosphere as renowned South African musicians graced the stage paying tribute and upholding the memory of Mama Winnie. Sounds of struggle songs also filled the stadium accompanied by stomping of feet creating a powerful aura.</p>
<div id="attachment_304150" style="width: 2058px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-304150" class="size-full wp-image-304150" src="http://cnbc.africa/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0636.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365" /><p id="caption-attachment-304150" class="wp-caption-text">Winnie Mandela&#8217;s funeral service. Photo by Zikhona Masala</p></div>
<p>“Even as our hearts were heavy, that we had lost the woman the world knew as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela but who I simply call mum, we have been shielded from our pain by your love”, said Zenani Mandela.</p>
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<p>The tone intensified as Mandela spoke directly to those that had vilified her mother, saying “the pain you inflicted on her, lives on in us. Praising her now that she has gone shows what hypocrites you are”.</p>
<p>She also addressed the different standards of morality that exist in South Africa and the world when it comes to men and women. “My mother is one of the many women who rose against patriarchy, prejudice and the might of a nuclear-armed state to bring the peace and democracy we enjoy today.”</p>
<p><a href="http://cnbc.africa/category/insights/winnie-madikizela-mandela/">FOR MORE ON WINNIE MADIKIZELA-MANDELA CLICK HERE </a></p>
<p>Those present were in unison saying Mam’ Winnie hasn’t died but has multiplied because her spirit continues to live on in many people in South Africa and beyond, a theme which come up numerous times through the proceedings.</p>
<p>Well known Orlando Pirates supporter Joy “Mama Joy” said, “Mama Winnie was the strongest woman who has fought a good fight. She didn’t die, she lives in us. I am Winnie Madikizela Mandela.”</p>
<p>In attendance was the Madikizela and Mandela family, politicians, delegations from South Africa to the United States. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of <a href="http://cnbc.africa/videos/2018/04/14/mam-winnie-leaves-behind-a-legacy-of-sacrifice-commitment-namibian-president/">Namibia Hage Geingob</a>, the President of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso. International dignitaries included Supermodel, <a href="http://cnbc.africa/videos/2018/04/14/mam-winnie-never-wavered-in-her-conviction-courage-naomi-campbell/">Naomi Campbell</a>, American Civil Rights activist Reverend <a href="http://cnbc.africa/videos/2018/04/13/rev-jesse-jackson-pays-homage-to-winnie-madikizela-mandela/">Jessie Jackson</a>.</p>
<p>The leader of South Africa’s political party – the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), <a href="http://cnbc.africa/videos/2018/04/14/mama-winnie-was-persecuted-by-the-apartheid-regime-and-disowned-by-her-own-julius-malema/">Julius Malema</a>, who was very close to Madikizela-Mandela, praised her for having put the country first and putting her life in danger because of her love for her people and the need of restoring their freedom. Malema slammed those in attendance at the funeral service that had turned their backs on her calling them sell outs. He also addressed the ANC for having turned its back on Mama Winnie saying, “If it’s true that the ANC want to honour Winnie Mandela, name Cape Town Airport, Winnie Mandela Airport.”</p>
<p>Madikizela-Mandela dedicated her life to the liberation of South Africa, she endured injustices but her unwavering courage and fighting spirit allowed her to stand up at the height of racial oppression in South Africa when others were unable to do so. “Mama Winnie was a witness to the truths and horrors of our nation, not only because of her own hardships but because of her courage,” said <a href="http://cnbc.africa/insights/winnie-madikizela-mandela/2018/04/14/sas-president-cyril-ramaphosas-mam-winnie-madikizela-mandela-eulogy/">South African President Cyril Ramaphosa</a>.</p>
<p>“Mama Winnie was my icon and my mum. To me she was like Jesus Christ because she used to fight a lot for us and she never forgot the poor people, she saw us as human beings. I remember when I was still young seeing her at Zone 7 after the Sebokeng massacre, she was also there to support us after the Boipatong massacre, and many years before that she was there in Sharpeville. Mama Winnie was always there for us,” said Jwalane Mokoena from Sebokeng.</p>
<div id="attachment_304154" style="width: 1375px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-304154" class="size-full wp-image-304154" src="http://cnbc.africa/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_0590.jpg" alt="" width="1365" height="2048" /><p id="caption-attachment-304154" class="wp-caption-text">Winnie Mandela&#8217;s funeral service: Photo by Zikhona Masala</p></div>
<p>As the Mother of The Nation exited the stadium to her final resting place, it thundered and poured with rain, the crowds erupted with cheering and jubilation, reacting to rain, which according to African culture is seen as showers of blessing. The giant was laid to rest at Fourways Memorial Park after a ten day period of mourning.</p>


Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was more than a mother of a nation, her impact was felt across Africa

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<p>The month of April is slowly becoming a month to commemorate struggle heroes. CNBC Africa&#8217;s Karabo Lethlathla recently attended the 25th anniversary of the killing of SACP Leader, Chris Hani and filed this report.</p>


South Africa pays homage to Chris Hani

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<p>Its 25 years ago to the date that South Africa stood on the verge of civil war &#8211; the spark was the shooting of SACP leader Chris Hani on the streets of Dawn Park near his home in Johannesburg. CNBC Africa&#8217;s Karabo Lethlathla reports.</p>


SA remembers Chris Hani

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<p>NPA gives its views on the postponement of former president Jacob Zuma&#8217;s criminal case.</p>


NPA reacts to the postponement of the #Zuma case

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<p>While the appointment of Gwede Manatshe as minister of mineral resources was celebrated by some, the feeling is not universal.</p>


AMCU is opposing Sibanye buyout of Lonmin

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<p>There was no hint of the drama to come when the African National Congress recalled South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma. This is what unfolded in the 12 days since.</p>


This is what unfolded in the 12 days since

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<p>Deon Gouws, Chief Investment Officer at Credo Wealth discusses its view of South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Monday night Cabinet reshuffle.</p>


How this multi-billion dollar overseas wealth manager is viewing SA’s #Cabinetreshuffle

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<p>On Monday evening South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffled his Cabinet replacing Malusi Gigaba as finance minister with former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene who was ousted by then President Zuma.</p>


Why SA’s former Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba had to go – Economist Payi

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<p>On Monday evening South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffled his Cabinet. Yongama Zigebe, Secretary of UDM Vanguard GP discusses what the reshuffle means for youth.</p>


SA President Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle suggests there’s no place for youth leaders – UDM

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<p>On Monday evening South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffled his Cabinet ousting razzmatazz &#8211; Fikile Mbalula. Yongama Zigebe, Secretary of UDM Vanguard GP discusses how Mbalula will be remembered.</p>


How former SA Minister Fikile Mbalula will be remembered

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<p>Cas Coovadia, MD of the Banking Association South Africa shares his views on President Ramaphosa’s newly constituted cabinet.</p>


BASA MD Coovadia: It is not in the interests of SA for the ANC to implode

<p>South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffled his cabinet on Monday after coming to power two weeks ago when scandal-plagued Jacob Zuma resigned under pressure from the ruling African National Congress.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-295161 size-full" src="http://cnbc.africa/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ANC54_NDZ_CR_GettyImages-RZ1.png" alt="" width="850" height="549" /></p>
<p class="">Below are details of some key ministers:</p>
<p class=""><strong>NHLANHLA NENE &#8211; FINANCE MINISTER</strong></p>
<p class="">Nhlanhla Nene served as finance minister from May 2014 until December 2015, when Zuma fired him and replaced him with unknown parliamentary backbencher Des van Rooyen.</p>
<p class="">A collapse in the rand currency forced Zuma to sack van Rooyen and reappoint a previous finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, just four days later.</p>
<p class="">Nene, a veteran civil servant who was keen to rein in government spending, had been reluctant to rubber-stamp an ambitious plan to build a number of nuclear power stations, a project that might cost as much as $100 billion and one which Ramaphosa has frankly said South African cannot afford.</p>
<p class="">Nene has since taken up roles in the private sector including as a board member at fund manager Allan Gray, resident advisor at investment firm Thebe Investment Corporation and as acting head of a business school in Johannesburg.</p>
<p class=""><strong>DAVID MABUZA &#8211; DEPUTY PRESIDENT</strong></p>
<p class="">ANC deputy president David Mabuza is the new Deputy President of South Africa and premier of Mpumalanga province. He has not served as a cabinet minister before.</p>
<p class="">Mabuza was an ally of Zuma and was accused of involvement in corruption in awarding tenders. He has denied any wrongdoing.</p>
<p class="">Mabuza’s influence in Mpumalanga will be significant for Ramaphosa and the ANC in next year’s parliamentary election.</p>
<p class=""><strong>PRAVIN GORDHAN &#8211; PUBLIC ENTERPRISES MINISTER</strong></p>
<p class="">A popular figure with investors, Gordhan served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017.</p>
<p class="">Gordhan has been a critic of the corruption that dogged Zuma’s term and there will be high expectations for him to clean up state-owned firms. His combative style can be divisive.</p>
<p class=""><strong>NKOSAZANA DLAMINI-ZUMA &#8211; MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY</strong></p>
<p class="">The former minister and chairwoman of the African Union Commission narrowly lost to Ramaphosa in an ANC leadership election in December and she would have hoped to be naming her own cabinet at this stage.</p>
<p class="">Dlamini-Zuma was married to former president Zuma for over a decade and has four children with him.</p>
<p class=""><strong>LINDIWE SISULU &#8211; FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER</strong></p>
<p class="">Sisulu initially ran against Ramaphosa in the ANC leadership race last year but later withdrew, choosing to pursue the deputy position, which she lost to David Mabuza.</p>
<p class="">Most recently serving as human settlements minister, Sisulu is the daughter of anti-apartheid activist Walter Sisulu, a close friend of Nelson Mandela.</p>
<p class="">While in exile during apartheid, Sisulu joined the military wing of the ANC, working in intelligence.</p>
<p class=""><strong>GWEDE MANTASHE &#8211; MINERALS RESOURCES MINISTER</strong></p>
<p class="">Trade unionist Mantashe, 62, is currently the national chairperson of the ANC and former secretary-general of the party &#8212; a position he held for 10 years.</p>
<p class="">The shrewd party strategist was the first trade unionist appointed to the board of directors of a company listed on Johannesburg’s stock exchange.</p>
<p class=""><strong>JEFF RADEBE &#8211; ENERGY MINISTER</strong></p>
<p class="">Radebe is one of the longest-serving ministers in post-apartheid South Africa, having held several senior cabinet positions in including as minister of public enterprises, justice and transport.</p>
<p class="">He served in underground structures of the ANC during white minority rule and was imprisoned on Robben Island, where the apartheid government kept political prisoners.</p>
<p class=""><strong>MALUSI GIGABA &#8211; HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER</strong></p>
<p class="">Gigaba returns to the home affairs ministry after having served as finance minister since being appointed by Zuma in March. He delivered the budget last week.</p>
<p class="">Gigaba has previously served as Minister of Public Enterprises.</p>
<p class="">A South African court found last year that Gigaba had violated the constitution by lying about a dispute with a company during his time at home affairs. Gigaba has said he will challenge the ruling. [L8N1QB5BV]</p>
<p class=""><strong>ZWELI MKHIZE &#8211; COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS MINISTER</strong></p>
<p class="">The ANC’s former treasurer general was an outsider in the party’s leadership race won by Ramaphosa in December.</p>
<p class="">A medical doctor by training, Mkhize also served as a party boss in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province, from where Zuma and Dlamini-Zuma hail. Ramaphosa will be relying on Mkhize to reconcile opposing factions in the ANC, analysts say.</p>
<p class=""><strong>NALEDI PANDOR &#8211; HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING MINISTER</strong></p>
<p class="">A former teacher and veteran minister, Pandor comes from a long line of political activists in Kwa-Zulu Natal, a key province for the ANC and one where Ramaphosa needs allies.</p>
<p class="">Largely praised for her personal integrity, Pandor has criticised ANC politicians for their lavish lifestyles.</p>
<p class=""><strong>DEREK HANEKOM &#8211; TOURISM MINISTER</strong></p>
<p class="">A white Afrikaner, Hanekom has served as a minister under every president since the end of white-minority rule, including as minister of land under Nelson Mandela.</p>
<p class="">Hanekom was one of the most vocal critics of Zuma and was sacked as tourism minister last year after publicly calling for his removal.</p>
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<p class="Attribution_content_27_rw">Compiled by Tiisetso Motsoeneng and Joe Brock; Editing by James Macharia and Catherine Evans</p>
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Key figures in S.African President Ramaphosa’s first cabinet

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<p>Vusi Thembekwayo, CEO of  My Growth Fund discusses South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle and what it means for small businesses. </p>


SA President Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle shows our priorities – Vusi Thembekwayo

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<p>President Cyril Ramaphosa fired 10 ministers last night in the cabinet reshuffle that’s the talk of Africa this morning. It saw a restructured and workmanlike cabinet with a more than a few old faces. CNBC Africa’s head of programming Chris Bishop looks through some of the highlights.</p>


Explainer: What you need to know about SA President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new Cabinet

<p>Vishwas Satgar | <em>University of the Witwatersrand</em></p>
<p>The African National Congress (ANC) has made a dangerous habit of bringing post-apartheid South Africa to the brink of instability and the common ruin of all. The resignation of former President Jacob Zuma and his replacement by Cyril Ramaphosa was such a moment. It brought home the point that the over-concentration of power in the office of the president has clearly not worked.</p>
<div id="attachment_299285" style="width: 860px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-299285" class="wp-image-299285 size-full" src="http://cnbc.africa/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Cyril-Ramaphosa_Baleka-Mbete_SONA2018-GettyImages.png" alt="" width="850" height="565" /><p id="caption-attachment-299285" class="wp-caption-text">South Africa&#8217;s newly-minted president Cyril Ramaphosa (C) reviews a guard of honour with National Speaker Baleka Mbete (R) as he arrives to deliver his State of the National address at the Parliament in Cape Town, on February 16, 2018. Image: Getty Images</p></div>
<p>A rethink on president-centred politics and the threats it poses to the democracy are crucial for the post-Zuma period. South Africa needs to re-imagine democratic practice, leadership and how power works.</p>
<p>Some sections of South African society have reduced the Zuma problem to a corruption problem. Dismantle Zuma’s kleptocratic network, the argument goes, and all is solved. Zuma’s demise and a few high profile prosecutions will suffice.</p>
<p>But another view on the Zuma problem – and one with which I concur – suggests it is a problem of contending class projects inside the ANC. The neoliberal class project under Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki saw South Africa integrated into global markets. It maintained stability through modest redistributive reforms. This project laid the basis for a new black middle class to emerge while systematically weakening labour and the left.</p>
<p>But it surrendered the state (including the presidency) to transnational capital and the power of finance.</p>
<p>The Zuma project, on the other hand, advanced looting as the basis of accumulation and class formation. The extra-constitutional state that emerged deepened the macroeconomic, institutional and legitimacy crisis of the ANC-led state. The left and labour, aligned with the ANC in the tripartite alliance, were co-opted and divided. Both these projects are entrenched in the ANC.</p>
<p>Now what? Messiah-centred presidential politics is extremely dangerous. This is particularly true in a country of extreme inequality and with a formal concentration of power in the office of the president. If politics is not represented, thought and acted beyond this, South Africa is going to repeat historical mistakes.</p>
<p>Since the ANC’s December 2017 conference the media, the banks and international institutions have been talking up a narrative of the “Cyril effect”. Zuma’s removal is attributed to this. In fact the Cyril effect is a narrative of capture of South Africa’s new president by transnational and financial capital.</p>
<p>South Africa’s democracy cannot afford another captured president beholden to credit rating agencies, currency fluctuations, investment flows and business perceptions. South Africa’s democracy has to be grounded in the needs of its citizens and the mandates given by its Constitution.</p>
<h2>The ‘Cyril effect’ is hyperbole</h2>
<p>The end of Zuma was in fact not because of the Cyril effect. In the main Zuma was removed by the people’s effect which connected the dots of corruption, a mismanaged state and rapacious capitalism.</p>
<p>This resistance was expressed over 15 years through various institutions and social forces. These included:</p>
<ul>
<li>Battles inside the South African Communist Party (SACP) against Zumafication but which led to expulsions;</li>
<li>By feminists during Zuma’s rape trial and subsequently through #RememberKhwezi;</li>
<li>Artists and cartoonists lampooning Zuma, including with shower heads;</li>
<li>The ongoing struggles in communities against corrupt officials;</li>
<li>The Marikana massacre in 2012. This produced rage among workers and major realignments away from Zuma’s ANC;</li>
<li>The call by trade unions like the metalworkers’ Numsa for Zuma’s removal;</li>
<li>The Vukani-Sidikiwe campaign during the 2014 elections which opened up a national debate on how citizens should vote;</li>
<li>The rise of #ZumaMustGo Campaign. This was in response to the sacking of Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister in December 2015. The NUMSA-led United Front played a crucial role in this;</li>
<li>The #FeesMustFall movement. Students’ demands included labour insourcing as well as quality, decommodified and decolonised higher education;</li>
<li>The 2016 local government elections. These were a harbinger of seismic political realignments against the ANC in key cities;</li>
<li>The role of investigative and nonpartisan media in probing corruption scandals. And the publication of the Gupta-leaks as well as “A Simple Man” and “The President’s Keepers”;</li>
<li>The courageous role from 2010 onwards of then public protector Thuli Mandonsela in drawing attention to ethics and legal violations by Zuma;</li>
<li>Court decisions affirming the judiciary’s independence in relation to Zuma;</li>
<li>Zuma’s miscalculation in firing finance minister Pravin Gordhan, the rallying of activists and the rise of #SaveSouthAfrica. What followed were some of the largest post-apartheid protest marches;</li>
<li>The powerful voice of liberation struggle veterans like Ahmed Kathrada and others who called for Zuma to resign.</li>
</ul>
<h2>The ANC’s legitimacy crisis</h2>
<p>As a result of all this activity the crisis of legitimacy in the ANC – and the ANC state – has deepened. This has placed immense pressure on the party to act. In this context, Ramaphosa is playing out his role out of necessity and to secure the ANC’s electoral fortunes.</p>
<p>For middle class and rich South Africans Ramaphosa’s state of the nation speech represented a return to normalcy – a democracy that works for a few. That’s not to say that the new president didn’t make some important announcements in his state of the nation address. This included his comments about state owned enterprises, redistributive state programmes and anti-corruption mechanisms.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the speech struck chords that resonated with the “return to normalcy” narrative.</p>
<p>But South Africans can’t repeat the mistake made in 1994 when progressive civil society demobilised. The people’s effect has to continue to shape a post-Zuma democracy in the interests of all. The ANC has abused majority support and cannot be trusted with the future of South Africa.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/92051/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />People’s power has to be strengthened and continuously mobilised around strengthening democratic institutions, ending corruption, fundamental economic transformation and advancing systemic alternatives to the climate crisis.</p>
<p><em>This article was originally published on The Conversation. </em></p>


South Africa must resist another captured president: this time by the markets

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<p>Foluso Phillips, Chairman of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce joined CNBC Africa for a discussion on the impact the change in leaders in SA could have on the business community.</p>


What SA’s leadership change means for business – Foluso Phillips

<p><em><span class="fn author-name">David Everatt |</span> University of the Witwatersrand</em></p>
<p>Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa – forgive me, President Ramaphosa – is self-evidently a private and reserved human being. Since his decision to contest the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC), he has been the subject of an endless series of “think-pieces”, more or less informed including by this author, as well as a year or more of attack videos and smears from those he ultimately defeated at the 2017 ANC elective conference. His private life has been examined, and people have tried to double-guess every move he has made, or should have made, or is about to make.</p>
<div id="attachment_299189" style="width: 860px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-299189" class="wp-image-299189 size-full" src="http://cnbc.africa/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Cyril-Ramaphosa_Sworn-in_GettyImages.png" alt="" width="850" height="511" /><p id="caption-attachment-299189" class="wp-caption-text">Cyril Ramaphosa sworn-in being sworn-in as President of South Africa on 15 February, 2018.</p></div>
<p>The man must be squirming. Worse than the attention, however, is his recent elevation to Messiah status in the media and the popular imagination. He maketh Zuma to bugger off. He maketh the currency to rise and pessimism to fall; he will cleanse where others defiled; and he may lead South Africans towards the promised land – or, for the non-believers, will it be down the garden path?</p>
<p>Messiahs are an expression of the need for the yoke of oppression to be lifted, by a god-anointed action man (there are precious few female Messiahs in history) who does what mere mortals cannot. Nelson Mandela was South Africa’s first Messiah, but was seemingly born for the role, relished it, and given the massive damage to economy and society in late apartheid, almost everything he did was inevitably positive. The economy grew, rainbows were believed in, the national football team <em>Bafana Bafana</em> were football champions. Anything was possible.</p>
<p>In Ramaphosa’s case, the context is horribly similar. The economy has been smashed by the labyrinthine tendrils of corruption and <a href="http://ewn.co.za/Topic/State-Capture">state capture</a> that have insinuated themselves into every aspect of public life, compounding those already present in the private sector.</p>
<p>For every state owned enterprise there is a private sector player like <a href="https://theconversation.com/lessons-from-kpmg-be-on-guard-south-africans-are-on-your-case-84478">KPMG</a>, and for every bribe that is accepted, someone else offered it. Zuma tended his corrupt garden well, and South Africa feels like it is the early 1990s again: <a href="https://m.news24.com/Columnists/GuestColumn/understanding-and-addressing-political-violence-in-kzn-20170725">political killings</a> are rife in KwaZulu-Natal, the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/24/why-south-africas-economic-outlook-is-looking-bleak.html">economy</a> is in tatters, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/world/africa/raw-tensions-over-race-fester-in-south-africa.html">racial tensions</a> are high, the poor are <a href="http://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=10334">getting poorer</a>, the rich richer, and the country’s sports people seem unable to win a game of tiddly-winks.</p>
<h2>What kind of president?</h2>
<p>What kind of president will Ramaphosa be? Will he, like Zuma’s predecessor Thabo Mbeki, gravitate towards foreign affairs, the African continent, and playing a global role in various summits and multilateral bodies? Or will he be more Zuma-like, and regard the secret and security forces as his natural base?</p>
<p>The last 10 days should have answered part of this question. Because of Ramaphosa’s chess moves the country has seen the true colours of everyone in the ANC’s top six leadership and beyond. He and all South Africans now know where many of his enemies are. Those desperate to be reborn Ramaphosa-ites have become visible, and he knows (as South Africans do) who can be trusted and who not. He has forced people to play their roles out in public, for all to see and learn, and better to understand the challenges he faces.</p>
<p>More importantly, the state utility Eskom has been completely reconfigured with a new board, and fear has begun to percolate through to all those eating South Africa’s public funds.</p>
<p>But the most significant moves were left to the very end. Zuma’s last day as president – not in any way coincidentally – began with the news that the home of the powerful Gupta family had been raided and arrests had been made.</p>
<p>The second masterstroke was to allow Zuma to show his true colours in a rambling interview on state television to the nation. Everyone was given a taste of what Ramaphosa has had to deal with.</p>
<p>Once Zuma knew that his time was up – his Gupta buddies being arrested, his son Duduzane being looked for and some of his lieutenants deserting him – he declined into self-pity.</p>
<h2>Zuma myths</h2>
<p>For years the world has been fed several myths about Zuma. That he was steeped in strategy and that he was a master tactician. There was also the fable that he had dirt on everyone and would never be outmanoeuvred, that even a wounded lion is dangerous, that he may be down but never out, and so on.</p>
<p>Instead, the terrible sadness of a crumpled bully was in evidence on SABC TV. He spent 30 minutes spinning silly yarns about the lack of accusations or evidence against him, insisting he was innocent, trying to blame anyone but himself. It laid bare the truth – Zuma is merely PW (Botha) rebooted. Apartheid president Botha, nicknamed the <em>Groot Krokodil</em> (big crocodile), was a hardliner who refused to leave office and alienated everyone even in his own National Party.</p>
<p>Zuma’s incoherent television appearance was an old jackal meeting an old <em>krokodil</em>. Each filled with a sense of victimhood, denying any wrongdoing, both responsible for destroying the economy, the social fabric, and any number of lives. Ramaphosa left Zuma to show all South Africans his overweening vanity, his inability to distinguish right from wrong, and his arrogance. Shakespeare could not have plotted it better. Ramaphosa emerged as the true strategist.</p>
<h2>A mere mortal</h2>
<p>Ramaphosa is no Messiah, and when the post-Zuma champagne corks stop popping, South Africans need to assess him as a mere mortal. One who is inheriting a country laid almost as bare as the country Mandela inherited in 1994.</p>
<p>Ramaphosa has a massive job ahead of him, in trying to reignite national pride, self-belief, and mutual trust. He also has to salvage the ANC’s reputation and win the next election in 2019, no mean feat in itself. It would also be nice to win a match or two.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91923/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />The man, rather than the Messiah, has shown he can move multiple chess pieces at once – and win. The last 10 days have seen him completely eclipse his enemies within, having defeated those without when he was elected ANC president in December. This will be a quiet president, in place of Zuma’s inane giggling and braggadocio that has gone. But as the saying goes, always watch the quiet ones…</p>
<p><em>This article was originally published on The Conversation. </em></p>


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