Every time the deputy president speaks, his followers are gripped by excitement. But what is he really saying? Or is he leading by following? Is the tide more important than the principle?
Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech to the SA Communist Party conference last week sent the media into apoplexies of delight and affirmation. Headlines like "Cyril’s slam-dunk speech" and "Ramaphosa 2.0" soon followed.
In truth though, he said nothing new, he rarely does. It is just that the need to believe has many in its grip. Any excuse to see the definite in the ambiguous will do. And no-one benefits more from this affliction than Ramaphosa.
Let’s call it Ramathusiasm.