Cyril Ramaphosa walked into the South African Communist Party’s (SACP) 14th national congress as ANC deputy president and walked out as the guy to beat in the race for the governing party’s top job. In a presidential campaign speech that shaded all the rhetoric and subliminal messaging of the succession battle up to now‚ Ramaphosa used the platform to hit hard against the Gupta family and those within the ANC’s ranks who collaborate with them. He was speaking on behalf of the ANC at the congress after President Jacob Zuma was told he was not welcome. Before the deputy president took to the podium‚ union federation Cosatu general secretary Bheki Nthalintshali re-affirmed that the federation was supporting him for the position of ANC president. The ANC had previously embargoed campaigning until after its policy conference‚ which ended last week. Ramaphosa therefore chose his moment well. Speaking before an audience highly critical of state capture‚ Zuma and the Guptas‚ Ramaphosa had t...

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