PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 20: Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers a keynote address during the official renaming ceremony of the Nelson Mandela University at the Missionvale Campus on July 20, 2017 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Ramaphosa says the newly launched Nelson Mandela University must strive to uphold all the values the icon it is named after stood for‚ including non-racialism‚ non-sexism‚ honesty‚ truth and integrity. (Photo by Gallo Images / Die Burger / Lulama Zenzile)
PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 20: Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers a keynote address during the official renaming ceremony of the Nelson Mandela University at the Missionvale Campus on July 20, 2017 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Ramaphosa says the newly launched Nelson Mandela University must strive to uphold all the values the icon it is named after stood for‚ including non-racialism‚ non-sexism‚ honesty‚ truth and integrity. (Photo by Gallo Images / Die Burger / Lulama Zenzile)
Cyril Ramaphosa came out on top of a knife-edge vote against Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Monday evening, to become the new President of the ANC. The world was watching on, and it had plenty to say.
Online media had a field day with the news that Jacob Zuma will make way for Mr Ramaphosa as the President of the party. Although Zuma remains the President of South Africa, Cyril could eventually replace him over the course of the next year.
The world reacts to ‘President Cyril Ramaphosa’
Both The Times of Luxembourg and The Mirror of the UK chose to lead with Ramaphosa’s reputation. They commend him for being ‘the choice of Nelson Mandela’, a tag you suspect will start following him around.
Luxembourg’s interest is a particular point of interest, as the country boasts the Highest GDP per capita in Europe. Is this more approval from the business world for Ramaphosa’s appointment?
There was a strong American interest over the vote, too. Time Magazine scratched the surface with their write-up, but it was Bloomberg who asked the more probing questions. They looked at his growth targets, and praised his ‘jobs first’ approach:
Now, we know India – and one family in particular – keep a keen eye on South African business practices. The Times of India focused on the challenges ahead for CR, and highlighted the deep divisions within the party. Whilst most are fawning over his strength in business, The Times looked at how tough the fight for unity will be.
There were less positive opinions shared between Reuters and Foreign Policy, though. The former chose to look at the issues Ramaphosa has to address, and raises concerns about the ANC’s fragile identity crisis. FP simply dismissed Ramaphosa’s chances of alleviating the gloom in South Africa. Nothing was sugarcoated here:
The global reaction could perhaps be described as ‘lukewarm’. Had Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma secured victory, we suspect there’d have been an even frostier reception for a dynastic succession.
