ANC GOVERNANCE
JOHN DLUDLU: Early poll would reduce economic doubt
Ramaphosa is duty-bound to make strong cases for modernising the ANC and reigniting South Africa’s economic growth
In August 2017, I urged in this column that the ANC’s voting delegates pick Cyril Ramaphosa as their next leader. I argued that of all the candidates, his campaign had the makings of a manifesto for a country in crisis and delegates should pick him for the economy’s sake. In December, Ramaphosa emerged victorious, although it was not a decisive triumph. The ANC’s "top six" and its national executive committee contain politicians from factions that supported his rival, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. It is rare in modern-day politics for anyone to win with a large majority — even when the leadership bar has slumped as low as Ramaphosa’s predecessor has taken it. Ramaphosa’s scope for reforming the ANC is limited, but there’s room to manoeuvre. He is duty-bound to make very strong cases for modernising the party and reigniting SA’s economic growth. What’s plain from the outcome of the ANC conference is that the party isn’t ready for the radical internal reforms necessary to make it a worthy c...
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