Patrick Bond and Mary Galvin report on the recent catastrophic floods in Durban, which have exposed the Cyril Ramaphosa government’s criminal negligence and failure to take action on climate change.
Cyril Ramaphosa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who took office in February from Jacob Zuma, is facing a rebellion within the union movement over proposed changes to the labour laws.
New South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made headlines when the ANC leader backed legal changes that could allow land reform to redistribute land from traditionally powerful white owners to the Black majority.
But this populist posture aside, the new administration is seeking to deepen pro-corporate neoliberalism and austerity.
The rise of Cyril Ramaphosa, from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), to South African president following a February 15 vote by the National Assembly was largely greeted with sighs of relief and expressions of joy.
However, jubilation over Ramaphosa’s election obscures a murky past and stormy future.