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South Africa: Cyril Ramaphosa to outline anti-corruption strategy South Africa: Ramaphosa invokes Mandela in first major speech
(about 7 hours later)
New president to deliver first major speech vowing to prioritise economic growth and combat inequality New president vows to prioritise economic growth and combat inequality, one day after being sworn in to replace Jacob Zuma
Jason Burke in JohannesburgJason Burke in Johannesburg
Fri 16 Feb 2018 09.50 GMT Fri 16 Feb 2018 17.35 GMT
Last modified on Fri 16 Feb 2018 11.13 GMT First published on Fri 16 Feb 2018 09.50 GMT
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Cyril Ramaphosa will outline his strategy to restore economic growth, fight corruption and tackle entrenched inequality in South Africa in the first major speech of his presidency. Cyril Ramaphosa invoked the memory and message of Nelson Mandela as he pledged to restore economic growth, fight corruption and tackle entrenched inequality in South Africa in the first major speech of his presidency on Friday.
“Guided by [Mandela’s] example, we will use this year to reinforce our commitment to ethical behaviour as well as ethical leadership. We are not merely honouring the past but building the future… South Africa belongs to all who live in it,” Ramapahosa, 65, said.
“It is a new dawn that is inspired by our collective memory of Nelson Mandela and the changes that are unfolding....We will build a new nation and confront the injustices of the past and the inequalities of the present.”
The former deputy president was sworn in as head of state hours after being elected unanimously by parliament to replace Jacob Zuma, who resigned late on Wednesday following accusations of corruption and economic mismanagement.The former deputy president was sworn in as head of state hours after being elected unanimously by parliament to replace Jacob Zuma, who resigned late on Wednesday following accusations of corruption and economic mismanagement.
In a short speech in parliament on Thursday, Ramaphosa, 65, vowed to fight graft and unite South Africans. The annual state of the nation address was to have been given by Zuma eight days ago, but was postponed to allow Ramaphosa, who is the leader of the ruling African National Congress, and other senior party officials to negotiate his predecessor’s departure.
“Issues to do with corruption, issues of how we can straighten out our state-owned enterprises and how we deal with ‘state capture’ are issues that are on our radar screen,” he said, in a reference to alleged improper influence over government institutions, ministers and state-owned businesses by Zuma’s associates. Ramaphosa thanked the “people of South Africa” for their patience during the “period of political transition”.
Ramaphosa reached out to opposition parties, telling parliamentarians “South Africa must come first in everything we do”. Former presidents Thabo Mbeki and F.W. de Klerk were in the public gallery, though Zuma, who had been invited, did not attend.
“This is not yet uhuru (freedom). We have never said it is uhuru. We are going to seek to improve the lives of our people on an ongoing basis, and since 1994, we have done precisely that,” he said.
Ramaphosa was born in Soweto, a township near Johannesburg and the centre of the anti-apartheid struggle, in 1952. He became involved in activism to end the apartheid system while studying at university and was arrested in 1974, spending 11 months in solitary confinement. Ramaphosa was born in Soweto, a township near Johannesburg and the centre of the anti-apartheid struggle, in 1952. He became involved in activism to end the apartheid system while studying at university and was arrested in 1974, spending 11 months in solitary confinement. 
After graduating, he co-founded the National Union of Mineworkers, which is now one of the biggest and most powerful trade unions in South Africa. Ramaphosa was a key part of a taskforce that led South Africa's transition to democracy and is credited with being a skilled negotiator. Despite Nelson Mandela describing him as one of the most gifted leaders of the "new generation", Ramaphosa failed to get the ANC nomination to succeed Mandela as president in 1999. After graduating, he co-founded the National Union of Mineworkers, which is now one of the biggest and most powerful trade unions in South Africa. Ramaphosa was a key part of a taskforce that led South Africa's transition to democracy and is credited with being a skilled negotiator. Despite Nelson Mandela describing him as one of the most gifted leaders of the "new generation", Ramaphosa failed to get the ANC nomination to succeed Mandela as president in 1999. 
After that blow, Ramaphosa swapped politics for a lucrative foray into business, using his union connections and becoming one of the richest men in the country. His popularity took a knock in 2012 when police shot dead 34 striking workers at a mine operated by London-listed Lonmin. At the time of the killings, Ramaphosa was on the board of directors and had called for a crackdown on the strikers, whom he accused of "dastardly criminal" behaviour.  After that blow, Ramaphosa swapped politics for a lucrative foray into business, using his union connections and becoming one of the richest men in the country. His popularity took a knock in 2012 when police shot dead 34 striking workers at a mine operated by London-listed Lonmin. At the time of the killings, Ramaphosa was on the board of directors and had called for a crackdown on the strikers, whom he accused of "dastardly criminal" behaviour.  
In 2012 Ramaphosa returned to politics and two years later he became South Africa's deputy president. Despite being part of Zuma's administration, he is seen as a reformer who will steer the country away from the corruption scandals that have hurt the economy.In 2012 Ramaphosa returned to politics and two years later he became South Africa's deputy president. Despite being part of Zuma's administration, he is seen as a reformer who will steer the country away from the corruption scandals that have hurt the economy.
The annual state of the nation address was to have been given by Zuma eight days ago, but was postponed to allow Ramaphosa, who is the leader of the ruling African National Congress, and other senior party officials to negotiate his predecessor’s departure.
The ANC has a substantial majority in parliament and the vote was effectively a formality. Although deeply divided, the party has closed ranks after the crisis of recent days and rallied around Ramaphosa.The ANC has a substantial majority in parliament and the vote was effectively a formality. Although deeply divided, the party has closed ranks after the crisis of recent days and rallied around Ramaphosa.
There are very high expectations of the president.There are very high expectations of the president.
David Everatt, a professor of politics at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, wrote on the Conversation: “Ramaphosa is no messiah, and when the post-Zuma champagne corks stop popping, South Africans need to assess him as a mere mortal … Ramaphosa has a massive job ahead of him in trying to reignite national pride, self-belief and mutual trust.” David Everatt, a professor of politics at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, wrote on the Conversation: “Ramaphosa is no messiah, and when the post-Zuma champagne corks stop popping, South Africans need to assess him as a mere mortal .”
ANC officials will be looking to Ramaphosa to improve its flagging popularity. Economic decline and multiple corruption scandals have undermined the image and legitimacy of the party, which led the struggle against apartheid and has been in power since Nelson Mandela became president after South Africa’s first free elections in 1994. ANC officials will be looking to Ramaphosa to improve its flagging popularity. Economic decline and multiple corruption scandals have undermined the image and legitimacy of the party, which led the struggle against apartheid and has been in power since Mandela became president after South Africa’s first free elections in 1994.
In his speech, Ramaphosa lauded the achievements of the ANC in recent years, and sought to reassure overseas investors.
“Our task is to seize this moment of hope. This year we will be initiating new measures to set this country on a new path ... to build economic regeneration. Tough decisions will have to be made,” he said, promising a “job summit” to boost employment.
The ANC suffered significant setbacks in municipal elections in 2016 and could be forced into a coalition government at the national level, experts have said.The ANC suffered significant setbacks in municipal elections in 2016 and could be forced into a coalition government at the national level, experts have said.
In an early sign of change, police raided the Johannesburg home of the Guptas, a family of wealthy businessmen alleged to have earned millions of dollars from contracts gained through improper dealings with Zuma and other government officials.In an early sign of change, police raided the Johannesburg home of the Guptas, a family of wealthy businessmen alleged to have earned millions of dollars from contracts gained through improper dealings with Zuma and other government officials.
Ajay Gupta, one of the three brothers accused of wrongdoing, was declared a fugitive from justice on Thursday after failing to hand himself in to police.
Zuma and the family deny the allegations.Zuma and the family deny the allegations.
Ramaphosa, a former anti-apartheid activist turned successful businessman, is the standard bearer for the moderate, reformist faction of the ANC. Zuma, 75, represented the party’s more populist, nationalist element, commentators said.Ramaphosa, a former anti-apartheid activist turned successful businessman, is the standard bearer for the moderate, reformist faction of the ANC. Zuma, 75, represented the party’s more populist, nationalist element, commentators said.
In a televised address to the nation late on Wednesday, Zuma, who was due to leave power next year, said he was a disciplined member of the party, to which he had dedicated his life.
Cyril RamaphosaCyril Ramaphosa
South AfricaSouth Africa
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