Written by Maximus Hansen
Edited by Annika Lilja
On June 14, 2024, Cyril Ramaphosa was elected to serve a second term as the president of South Africa. This election was different than any before as both majority parties, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), as well as smaller parties, merged together to create a coalition, the “Unity Party.” Not only is this a new concept in South Africa, but it is also an indicator of the waning power of the ANC, which has previously dominated the country’s politics since the end of Apartheid (South Africa’s system of racial segregation) in 1990.
Who is President Cyril Ramaphosa?
Cyril Ramaphosa was born in 1953 to Venda African parents in the outskirts of Johannesburg. As a teenager, he became a part of popular anti-Apartheid groups and was incarcerated for 11 months in solitary confinement for participating in forbidden meetings with other anti-Apartheid leaders. He spent many years learning law and worked as a clerk in Johannesburg. Once the rule of Apartheid loosened up in its twilight years, Ramaphosa started to get involved in politics. Over time, his influence started to expand after Apartheid and eventually, he was chosen to lead the ANC. Soon enough, Ramaphosa saw himself sworn into office as president upon the resignation of Jacob Zuma. His first term was set during the COVID-19 crisis, which put him in a challenging position. On top of the pandemic, Ramaphosa also struggled to deal with the country’s rising crime rate, lack of infrastructure and educational funding, as well as rampant corruption.
How did South Africa Get Here?
Following South Africa’s independence from the British Empire in 1910, control of the country was put into the hands of the White minority. For the next 80 years, Black South Africans suffered under discriminatory laws that placed them below White people in all aspects of society. In order to stop possible united uprisings against the regime, Presidents such as P.W. de Klerk encouraged violence between different ethnic groups, most notably between the Zulu and Xhosa people. To stop the violence, Nelson Mandela and the rest of the ANC promoted peace and unity among all South Africans. For decades, Mandela challenged Apartheid peacefully by organizing strikes and demonstrations all over the country. In turn, Mandela became a symbol of South African liberation and went on to do just that. However, in recent years, the same violence among ethnic groups has started to return.
What Now?
One group hit particularly hard during Ramaphosa’s term was the Afrikaners, South Africa’s white minority of Dutch origin. In recent years, many Afrikaner farmers were murdered on the basis of their skin color. Ramaphosa has failed to address their persecution.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by Julius Malema, is now the biggest opposition to the coalition government. Although smaller than the ANC and DA, the EFF has gained popularity in recent years. Their agenda focuses on African economic dominance at the expense of Afrikaners. In recent speeches, Malema incited his supporters to, “Kill the Boer (White South African),” essentially calling for their genocide.
The Unity Party will see rival parties forced to work together under President Cyril Ramaphosa, a concept completely foreign to the region. If the ANC wants to mitigate its loss of power, it will need to address the numerous problems present in South Africa.
Sources:
ANC President, Cyril Ramaphosa – ANC. www.anc1912.org.za/anc-president-cyril-ramaphosa-3/.
“Government of National Unity: A Moment of Profound Significance | SAnews.” Www.sanews.gov.za, 19 June 2024, www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/government-national-unity-moment-profound-significance.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa: Profile.” Www.dpme.gov.za, www.dpme.gov.za/about/Pages/President-Cyril-Ramaphosa.aspx.
SAHRC. “Malema, EFF May Be in Trouble over “Kill the Boer” (Video).” Www.sahrc.org.za, 16 Oct. 2020, www.sahrc.org.za/index.php/sahrc-media/news/item/2493-malema-eff-may-be-in-trouble-over-kill-the-boer-video. Accessed 16 July 2024.
Farm Attacks and Farm Murders 2022 n.d. https://afriforum.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230228-Johan-N-Farm-murders-and-attacks-in-SA-for-2022-ENG-GFdB-1.pdf (accessed July 16, 2024).