Some describe him as an enigma. Others know him as a wealthy man who once splashed out R18 million to buy a single buffalo. His detractors place him at the centre of the “Marikana massacre” which saw police open fire on striking workers of a mine he had a stake in, killing 34 people in 2012 in the biggest loss of life in a single police operation in post-democratic South Africa.
Even more interesting, his ex-wife, Hope Ramaphosa, still speaks highly of his civility and respect for women in the wake of abuse and adultery allegations against him.
Within a few weeks, the man who famously led the reception committee that met Nelson Mandela when he was released from prison in February 1990, will participate in what is seen by many as a seminal elective conference of the African National Congress (ANC) – Africa’s oldest liberation movement turned political party.
Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC), which was formed in 1912 at a Wesleyan Church in Bloemfontein, in South Africa’s Free State province, is one of the leading contenders for the party presidency when it holds its elective conference in Johannesburg in December.
A recent sex scandal in which the former trade union leader allegedly had multiple affairs with young women seems to have died a natural death. Interest in the alleged affairs has waned and no other saucy details have been forthcoming.
For his part, Ramaphosa rubbished the claims, save for one old affair he said his wife was aware of. He has since moved on with his “CR17 campaign” to lead the ANC. He even controversially named his “winning team” that includes Naledi Pandor, the country’s current science and technology minister, as his running mate.
Commenting on the negotiations that led to a peaceful transition to democracy in 1994, Ramaphosa revealed during a radio interview that he and Roelf Meyer, of the then ruling National Party, had not set aside their political differences to bring about a peaceful transition to democracy.
The two former political counterparts – now dear friends – worked together to negotiate during a sensitive time in the country.
Explaining how the deal was sealed, Ramaphosa said: “At an organisational level, our relationship had matured and was based on accountability to our principles. Nothing was hidden. It was openness and a total commitment by the two entities to find solutions to the country’s problems.”
Perhaps that is why some warm up to Ramaphosa because of his stated “openness and total commitment to finding solutions”.
South Africa is at a crossroads and urgently needs solutions. Something has to give unless there is a commitment to tackle corruption, joblessness, a wobbly economy and restless university students whose studies depend on cash the government does not have.
On Friday the Soweto-born former union leader, negotiator, businessman and politician turns 65.
His biographer Anthony Butler, author of “Cyril Ramaphosa” says he was not an easy subject. “He is personally reticent and he gives few interviews,” wrote Bulter in the book first published in 2007.
Backing the author’s words, the now late professor Kadar Asmal, an ANC member of Parliament at the time, wrote: “Cyril Ramaphosa has been one of the most significant figures in South African political life over the past three decades.”
During apartheid policemen were thought to be collaborators with the system, but Ramaphosa’s father, Sergeant Samuel Mundzhedzi Ramaphosa, was never accused of selling out the people – instead many people in his Tshiawelo neighbourhood sought his counsel to settle disputes, a trait perhaps passed on to the deputy president, who became a skilled negotiator for the unions in the 1980s.
“People would come home, very angry at the injustices, and also pointing fingers at what policemen were doing … [but] he was one of those policemen who was highly respected in the community where we lived, and people would throng our home with problems,” recalled Ramaphosa of his father.
“And later in life and in the trade unions and… that type of situation, the patience to be able to listen to people and deal with their problems, I think I learned from my father.”
Ramaphosa is married to Dr. Tshepo Motsepe.
– African News Agency (ANA)
