South Africa: Powerful union endorses Ramaphosa for president as calls grow for Zuma to resign

National Union of Mineworkers backs Ramaphosa for president

South Africa’s deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s chances of becoming the next leader of the country got a boost on Monday when a powerful mining union backed him to succeed President Jacob
Zuma.

Debates over who should follow Zuma, either when his term ends in 2019 or before, are heating up after the ruling African National Congress (ANC) suffered its worst local election results last month, exposing party divisions.

Ramaphosa would be the first choice for many investors because he is more likely to support pro-business policies than many in the traditionally left-leaning ANC.

A decision has been taken “to support the candidacy of Cyril Ramaphosa for president” (of the ANC), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) – one of South Africa’s biggest unions – said in a statement.

“It is not only NUM that is endorsing for Ramaphosa for president,” General Secretary David Sipunzi added, without giving details. Sipunzi said NUM wanted Zuma to see out his term.
Zuma is expected to stand down as ANC president at a party conference late next year, ahead of national elections in 2019 when his tenure as the country’s leader will come to an end.

The ANC has dominated since the end of the brutal and racist apartheid system in 1994 and is widely expected to retain control at the 2019 vote, making its next leader almost certain to succeed Zuma as president.

Ramaphosa, a wealthy businessman and founding member of NUM, is likely to face strong competition if he does compete for the ANC leadership.
He has not yet declared his intention to run for leadership.

The ANC governs in an alliance with the South African Communist Party and trade union group, COSATU, both of which will play an important role in lobbying for Zuma’s successor.

“It is the start of the campaign and it will gain momentum,” said Gary van Staden, a political analyst at NKC African Economics.

Zuma has faced calls to quit from several members of the ANC following the local election results and a string of graft scandals but the party’s top echelons have backed him.
His younger brother Michael, became the latest to call for his resignation, urging him to quit, the Sunday Times reported.

Anti-apartheid campaigner Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a former first lady and wife of the late Nelson Mandela, said last week that South Africa needed fresh leadership, but did not mention Zuma by name.

Source: Reuters