More vexing

South Africa: Despite big win, tricky deputy casts shadow on Ramaphosa

In depth
This article is part of the dossier: South Africa looks for growth
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By Ray Mwareya
Posted on Thursday, 5 January 2023 15:29

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gestures after being re-elected as the leader for the African National Congress (ANC) for the next five years, during the 55th National Conference of the ANC at the National Recreation Center (NASREC) in Johannesburg on December 19, 2022. - Ramaphosa garnered 2,476 votes for the post of party president against 1,897 for former health minister Zweli Mkhize, the African National Congress' elections chief, Kgalema Motlanthe, announced. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP)

President Cyril Ramaphosa and his camp won a decisive majority when South Africa’s ANC ruling party re-elected him in as leader in December. However, a tricky deputy poses both danger to his final term in power, observers say.

Ramaphosa, who is considered to be pro-markets, crushingly defeated Zweli Mkhize, a rival who enjoyed backing from party foes determined to bring an aggressive redistributionist state.

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