Why Ramaphosa's letter is so significant

On Sunday President Ramaphosa sent a very angry and stern letter about corruption to the ANC rank and file. He did not mince his words. He declared the ANC “Accused No. 1” - language which I presume was deliberately chosen to remind his comrades of Apartheid political trials.  He also put strict measures in place to deal with future corruption – measures which would be extremely unpopular with many of the beneficiaries of state capture in the organisation.

 Almost immediately many analysts were raising questions. “Does he really mean it? Was he put under pressure to do it? Does he really put the welfare of the country first or is this only about the ANC? Is this really of any significance?” they asked. The majority were understandably very cynical.

I have no doubt that this was an extremely significant event, for the following reasons:

Firstly, because it says a lot about the man. I don’t profess to be a house friend of Ramaphosa, but I have had the privilege (and also the joy) to have spent time with him in the past as a colleague and when I was Ambassador. I have absolutely no doubt that he hates any form of corruption.

In the early 2000’s I had lunch with him in Melrose Arch. At some point, we started to talk about corruption. I will never forget how strongly he felt about it. “This is also why I tell my accountants to be 100% straight up about my taxes. I tell them not to deduct anything. I rather overpay. I never want to be questioned about money – ever!” he said passionately.

I don’t believe he has changed since then, which is why I know that the fury and commitment he shows when he talks about fighting corruption are real. Cyril Ramaphosa did not have to become president. He was rich enough and famous enough already. Yet, he wanted to become president, so that he could finish the job he started at CODESA. He wanted (and wants) to see a South Africa which is flourishing and which is far more equal than it currently is.

He knows that corruption is seriously damaging that mission and therefore that it has to be fought at all costs.

Secondly, this letter shows a confidence in his position in the ANC and of those who support him. It is important to understand what an unprecedented step it is for a president of the ANC to write such a brutally honest letter in which he acknowledges the party’s involvement in corruption - and then to put it out into the public domain.

In fact, I can’t think of any example in the world where a leader of a political party has been willing to do so.

Ramaphosa would not be able to have done so, if he did not feel secure in his position in the ANC. The tide has turned.

The ferocity of his words and actions are signs of a President who is confident that he has the support of the majority of his party, the National Executive and most importantly, the country.

However, this was a long time coming. After Ramaphosa was elected at the ANC conference at NASREC, the then Zuma supporters were extremely shocked. In retaliation over the last few days of the conference, they bulldozed a number of resolutions on, for example, land expropriation and the privatization of the Reserve. They intended to set Ramaphosa up for failure and hoped that they would be able to go after him two years later at the NGC, or even four years later at the next Elective Conference, for failing to implement those very controversial resolutions.

However, the Ramaphosa supporters were also able to get a few resolutions passed  – most noticeably the ones around eradicating corruption. Since the Conference in 2017, the Ramaphosa supporters have been working on a strategy around the implementation of these resolutions. They knew that they could only do so once they had enough support in the NEC and movement generally.

This opportunity was handed to them with the recent round of corruption. The outcry was so intense and so furious that no one in the ANC would now dare oppose any anti-corruption steps taken by the President.

Of course it doesn’t mean that nothing was done earlier. As Ramaphosa reminds us in the letter, a lot has been done in government to start eradicating corruption. The problem remained in the ANC as a political party and this is what he is now addressing.

If the reaction of the many WhatsApp groups I’m part of is anything to go by, the vast majority of ANC members and leaders have applauded Ramaphosa’s actions.

Given the enormous amount of money that has been stolen or misappropriated, it is easy to forget that these scandalous deeds were done by a relatively small – albeit powerful - group of people and that the vast majority of ANC members are against corruption and will continue to support him. (Which is why I think it is far too early to suggest future election defeat for the ANC as predicted by some analysts recently.) 

Of course, this will not be the end of corruption in the government and the ANC. As I have written before, the question is not whether it happens, but what happens after it happens. Ramaphosa has now drawn a line in the sand. Let’s see if members will step aside, or if the Integrity Commission will do their job.

There is a small window of opportunity to return to the heady days of 1994 when the ANC wanted to be a government of principle and values. If it is not used now, the opportunity will pass and the legacy Ramaphosa wanted to secure would be gone forever.