Ramaphosa vows to fight SA corruption in first speech as ANC leader
Image copyright Reuters The new leader of South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC), Cyril Ramaphosa, has pledged to fight corruption and pursue a policy of “radical economic transformation”.
Closing the party’s conference, he said tackling unemployment and poverty should also be key party policies.
Mr Ramaphosa was elected on Monday to succeed President Jacob Zuma as party leader.
He is in a strong position to become president at elections in 2019.
“This conference has resolved that corruption must be fought with the same intensity and purpose that we fight poverty, unemployment and inequality,” he told delegates at the end of the five-day conference.
“We must also act fearlessly against alleged corruption and abuse of office within our ranks.”
He acknowledged that the gathering had approved the seizure of land without compensation, but he cautioned against undermining the economy and food production.
Cyril Ramaphosa at a glance:
- Born in Soweto, Johannesburg, in 1952
- Detained in 1974 and 1976 for anti-apartheid activities
- Launched the National Union of Mineworkers in 1982
- Chairman of the National Reception Committee which prepared for Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1990
- Became an MP and chairman of constitutional assembly in 1994
- Moved full-time into business in 1997, becoming one of South Africa’s richest businessmen
- On the board of mine-owners Lonmin during 2012 Marikana massacre of striking miners
- Became South Africa’s deputy president in 2014
- Elected ANC leader in 2017
The ANC has been under pressure to redress disparities which mean whites still own most of the land in South Africa, more than two decades after the end of apartheid.
“This conference has resolved that the expropriation of land without compensation should be among the mechanisms available to government to give effect to land reform and redistribution,” he said.
“It has also been resolved that we ensure we do not undermine the agricultural production or the economy – that is what is important.”
Mr Ramaphosa praised his defeated rival for the ANC leadership, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
The leadership battle caused fierce political infighting, raising fears that the party might split before the 2019 election.
In a separate development, the ANC conference passed a resolution to direct the government to downgrade the South African embassy in Israel to a liaison office.
It described the move as a “practical expression of support to the oppressed people of Palestine”.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump caused widespread controversy when he announced the US would recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate its embassy there from Tel Aviv.
