Cyril Ramaphosa launches his ANC Presidency

SOUTH AFRICA - In Brief 13 Jan 2018 by Iraj Abedian

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Today, the ANC celebrates its 106th years, in its customary "8th of January Statement". The Party was formed on 8th of January 106 years back. Its new president, Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a strong and wide-ranging speech in the presence of the party's newly elected National Executive Committee (NEC), and President Zuma, in a stadium packed with 10s of thousands of jubilant ANC supporters in the costal city of East London. Zuma was not welcomed by the crowd present at the event. Zuma was booed at least five times, and Ramaphosa had to intervene to stop the crowd from embarrassing Zuma even more. Ramaphosa ushered in a new era in ANC politics by starting the proceedings on time- something that was never practiced under Zuma's leadership. Zuma was known for being late commonly between 4 to 6 hours! Even today, when he arrived 45 minutes late, the ANC chairman reminded him that a new culture is at work now, and if "you come late, you will miss out- comrade"! Clearly, the new leadership of the ANC is hard at work to give expression and credibility to the organisational renewal, ethical revival, and unity within the Party. In its first presidential address, Ramaphosa did not shy away from speaking about the painful and tough issues that the ANC and South Africa faced. Significantly, many of these issues involved Zuma and his family crony businesses. For many South Africans, and all his ANC supporters within the ANC, this was a good start. He now has to deliver on these promises. The cultural change that Ramaphosa is promising to achieve requires much consistent and sustained action. Time will tell, and his biggest and toughest action is to hammer out an acceptable and relati...