South Africa’s President and African National Congress (ANC) party President Cyril Ramaphosa cuts the cake during the ANC’s 110th anniversary celebrations.
(Photo by Phill Magakoe /AFP via Getty Images)
Ramaphosa currently has no known rivals with widespread support within the African National Congress.
Private armed security officers take a position near a burning barricade during a joint operation with South African Police Service officers in Jeppestown, Johannesburg.
Photo by Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images
Corruption thrives in a destabilised state with weak institutions. South Africa cannot be allowed back to that space because there will be no turning back.
Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa as well as of the ruling party, the African National Congress.
Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Ramaphosa is set to go down in the annals of history as an ANC president who presided over a tumultuous epoch in the party’s evolution.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s campaign against corruption is being undermined from within the governing ANC.
EFE-EPA/Yeshiel Panchia
Ramaphosa’s rise to power in 2018 offered South Africans hope that he would end corruption. Indeed, he made promises to do so. But he has met with resistance, especially within the ANC.
Former South African president Jacob Zuma addresses supporters after one of several court appearances on corruption charges.
EPA-EFE/Phil Makgoe/Pool
The former president is in a corner and largely isolated. His only option is to stir the pot so much that it gives him some kind of bargaining power.
Supporters of Ace Magashule, the secretary general of the ANC, protest outside the court where he appeared on corruption charges.
EFE-EPA/Conrad Bornman
Morals and laws are not binaries. They complement each other to enable harmonious coexistence.
Enthusiastic ANC supportets celebrate a recent election victory.
EFE-EPA/Yeshiel Panchia
The trouble is that the ANC’s branch structure, designed initially as a means of grassroots democracy at work, is in a mess.
ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule in court in Bloemfontein, on corruption charges.
EFE-EPA/Conrad Bornman
For every office holder who may lose a seat because they are prosecuted, another job opens up.
Percy Qoboza, editor of The World, second from left, being arrested by apartheid police following the banning of the newspaper in 1977.
Arena Holdings Archives
Journalists need to hold firmly to the ethical standards that assure audiences their work is reliable and credible.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has to inspire confidence amid growing scepticism.
GCIS
The challenge to deliver a persuasive speech comes firstly in the context of intense doubts as to whether President Ramaphosa is truly in charge of the ANC.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s efforts to fix South Africa are being undermined from within his own party, the ANC.
EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook
Ramaphosa’s detractors are unlikely to succeed in their rumoured bid. And, their failure will not be because they’ve suddenly become weak within the administration.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech failed to inspire confidence.
EFE-EPA/ANC handout
The year ahead promises to be a very difficult but also a very decisive year for South Africa. Is President Ramaphosa equal to the challenge?
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa (L) is congratulated by Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane after being elected president.
EPA/Nic Bothma
South Africa’s parliamentary system would make it difficult to achieve a fusion of parties.
Local communities have taken advantage of campaign trail visits by leaders such as President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Epa/Kim Ludbrook
Community radio stations have thrown themselves into the political discussion with gusto.
Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s “Gangster State” is one of South Africa’s top sellers.
Charles Leonard
Political books touches a certain chord in South African society that makes them bestsellers.
North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo (centre) before the announcement that his province is being taken over by national government.
EPA-EFE/STR
The chaos visiting South Africa’s North-West province shows that ordinary people in rural areas have got a raw deal from ruling party.
New ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa, centre, with fellow top leaders elected at the party’s 54th national conference.
EPA-EFE/Cornell Tukiri
Cyril Ramaphosa has secured the leadership of South Africa’s governing ANC. But he may not be able to clean up the mess left by Jacob Zuma given the other members of the party’s leadership team.