South Africa: ANC reappoints President Cyril Ramaphosa as its head
Cyril Ramaphosa after his re-election as president of the ruling party, December 19, 2022. REUTERS - SIPHIWE SIBEKO
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
South Africa's ruling party re-elected Cyril Ramaphosa as its president on Monday (December 19th), which puts him in good stead for a second term at the helm of the country if the historic party wins the general elections in 2024. the corruption scandal that put the South African president in the hot seat.
Advertising
Read more
With our correspondent in Johannesburg,
Claire Bargelès
Everything can change very quickly within the ANC.
At the beginning of the month, Cyril Ramaphosa was ready to step down, then he faced
possible impeachment proceedings
.
But now he finds himself in a position of strength within his party, which has renewed its confidence in him.
After a weekend of negotiations and last-minute alliances, the head of state was re-elected Monday at the head of his party with 2,476 votes against 1,897 for his opponent, his former Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize .
Despite a surprise comeback this weekend, opponents of
Cyril Ramaphosa
, rallied behind the candidacy of Zweli Mkhize, will not have had the head of the incumbent president:) 70 years old, he won the race with more than 500 votes. 'advance.
A victory celebrated by his supporters in songs and dances in this Johannesburg conference center, the two fingers raised in the air to indicate that a second term is now acquired.
His spokesman Vincent Magwenya is delighted: “
We are very stimulated by the fact that the president will now be able to accelerate the institutional and economic reforms that he has begun to put in place, for the good of the country.
»
Reinforced position
This result is further proof that, despite the "Phala-Phala" affair and the questions surrounding the theft of cash hidden on his farm, Cyril Ramaphosa will have been able to maintain the confidence of his
comrades,
his "
comrades
" in the ANC.
And he will also have been able to impose his team at the head of the party, an important point since during his first term, he had to deal with figures from the opposing camp.
Of the seven most important positions, nicknamed the "top 7", only two positions escape his allies, including that of vice-president.
“
The scandal that affects the president also affects the organization
”
The opposing camp, despite a spectacular recovery throughout the weekend, was unable to gather enough support from different regions of the country.
Qiniso Mnguni, delegate from KwaZulu-Natal:
“
We are a bit disappointed, but of course we have to accept the results.
However, the scandal affecting the president also affects the organization as a whole.
So we think he has to prove his innocence in order for the organization to stay protected.
»
This second term at the head of the ANC should therefore give the former trade unionist and businessman more leeway to impose his vision for the country and try to retain an absolute majority in Parliament during the general elections of 2024.
And the choice of Cyril Ramaphosa also appeals to the markets, since the rand has strengthened by more than 2% against the dollar, following the announcement of his re-election.
Young people still excluded from the bodies of the ANC
But according to researcher Hlengiwe Ndlovu, the party has once again failed to demonstrate representativeness:
“
They came up with this new revival slogan.
But if we look at the highest positions, these are the same people who have been gravitating around power for a very long time.
But we have a problem with young people, who do not participate and vote in elections.
»
After the renewal of Cyril Ramaphosa at the head of the ANC, varied reactions
Claire Bargeles
►
To read also:
South Africa: can President Cyril Ramaphosa stay in power?
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
South Africa
Cyril Ramaphosa