Ramaphosa’s ‘smoke and mirrors’ leadership is leading ANC into oblivion

IN ECONOMIC Freedom Fighters and Others v Speaker of the National Assembly and Another (2017) ZACC 47 (29/12/2017), the Constitutional Court argued that the president, “as the first citizen of this country, occupies a position indispensable for the effective governance of our democratic country… Whoever and whatever poses a threat to our sovereignty, peace and prosperity, he must fight”.

- PROF SIPHO SEEPE

The oath of office demands as much as President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to advance the interests of the Republic and oppose all that may harm it.

Ramaphosa’s second term presidency will be judged primarily by how effectively he navigates the generational, ideological and management of the incumbent, President Donald Trump, on the one hand, and the evolving politics of the ANC and the GNU, on the other.

Ramaphosa’s first brush with Trump was in 2018. Trump had raised concerns about South Africa’s handling of the land question.

Ramaphosa’s life backfired.

Addressing a cheering crowd in Tvliling in Limpopo, an overconfident President Cyril Ramaphosa blustered:

“Alone… when we were facing apartheid, when we were facing oppression, he was not here. He did not fight with us. By side with those far away. Donald Trump did not turn around there in the White House we will do our business. Seek our own solutions to our problems. So stay out of our issues, and we will not get involved in your issues. If America, as was fake news, would have, the same issues resolved itself earlier this year when Trump reassumed the presidency of the US. As was the case before, ciples depending on whom he is dealing… that is not a man who can lead a nation.”