Despite being re-elected as ANC president and leading a country in crisis, Cyril Ramaphosa has been accused of lacking courage and acting cowardly when faced with challenges.
Ramaphosa emerged victorious over his rival, former health minister Zweli Mkhize, with 2,476 votes to 1,897 earlier this month at the ANC's 55th national conference in Nasrec, Johannesburg.
Ramaphosa had ridden to victory on the promise of continued renewal, a pledge that will be under the microscope in 2023.
“The ANC is our political and ideological home. The task we face is to make the ANC the political home of all the South African people. As the renewal of the ANC continues to gather momentum, we have the utmost confidence we will restore the glory of our movement and regain the trust of the people,” Ramaphosa said.
While some welcomed his promises, others said it was all talk.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said Ramaphosa’s election would not change anything.
Most (57%) readers who voted in a TimesLIVE poll on whether Ramaphosa's re-election will bring a renewal said South Africa “can’t afford another five years of a directionless ANC”, while 20% said it was too early to say.
23% said under Ramaphosa's leadership “the ANC has turned a new leaf”.
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