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When Cyril Ramaphosa became President of the African National Congress (ANC) in 2017 and later President of South Africa, he faced a monumental task: reviving the economy, fighting corruption, and rebuilding trust in the state—all while uniting a deeply divided party. Rather than wielding power in a way that risked further fractures, Ramaphosa chose to play the “long game.” His strategy focused on strengthening institutions like the NPA and SARS, as well as internal ANC bodies, to ensure accountability originated from systems rather than personal purges. Critics saw him as indecisive and weak, but over time, many of his fiercest opponents lost influence, vindicating his patience. By prioritizing consensus and institution-building, Ramaphosa avoided deepening party fractures while slowly reshaping the ANC. Though the approach brought short-term setbacks, it has gradually positioned both the ANC and the state for renewal.
IOL