Cyril Ramaphosa could save South Africa—if he can reform his own party

HIS broad grin, and his rival’s grimace, heralded the big news. On December 18th Cyril Ramaphosa became the new leader of the African National Congress (ANC) and thus its candidate in the next South African presidential election. He will surely take over when President Jacob Zuma’s second term expires in 2019—or even sooner.

Mr Ramaphosa is a former trade union boss and anti-apartheid campaigner. He was once tipped to succeed Nelson Mandela, but the party picked Thabo Mbeki instead and Mr Ramaphosa spent the next several years making money. This time he campaigned more effectively, defeating Mr Zuma’s preferred successor (and ex-wife), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

The result was uncomfortably close. Mr Ramaphosa won by fewer than 200 votes out of nearly 5,000 cast at the ruling ANC’s five-yearly elective conference. Had the courts not kicked out more than 400 delegates, many of whom supported Ms Dlamini-Zuma, after finding irregularities in their selection, the Zuma dynasty might...Continue reading

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