The weekend congress of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has been a raw and bitter affair, reflecting the deep divisions within the party between supporters of the party’s now-re-elected president Cyril Ramaphosa and the faction still backing his predecessor, the disgraced Jacob Zuma. Following an unsuccessful impeachment attempt in parliament, Ramaphosa was re-elected comfortably on Monday as party leader for a second five-year term.
A key issue for Ramaphosa has been the alleged theft from his private game farm of somewhere between $580,000 and $8 million hidden in a sofa. The cash had allegedly been the proceeds of the sale of cattle, or, alternatively, money gathered by an aide abroad for the president. Strangely, the president did not report the theft to the police and appears to have used his official bodyguard to track the thieves to Namibia, with its official assistance.
An official investigation panel reported there was “substantial doubt” that the cattle sale took place, that the president had “a case to answer” on the cash source, and viewed as “troubling” the non-reporting of the theft. He has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes.
Ramaphosa became president in 2018 after Zuma was forced to resign amid numerous allegations of corruption. In the latest contest, Ramaphosa, who had previously an untarnished reputation for integrity, faced former health minister Zweli Mkhize, sacked for corruption and an ally of the Zuma faction.
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The bitter feuding appears to have strengthened Ramaphosa’s hand both within the party, and in terms of winning a second term as the country’s president in 2024. Observers say there is a widespread perception that he is the last line of defence between good governance and South Africa falling into the hands of those who will allow the country to become a failed state. Though the ANC is predicted to lose its long-standing majority, Ramaphosa is still likely to remain as president in any coalition government.