The South African president, who enjoys the official support of the ruling party despite a scandal, has shown himself determined to stay in place at the decisive congress of the ANC which must choose over the weekend its next leader and probable future head of state.
Cyril Ramaphosa, 70, has a good chance of winning a second term: he is the favorite to remain at the head of the African National Congress (ANC), which has appointed South African presidents since he came to power 28 years ago.
“The people of South Africa expect us to have the courage and the honesty to recognize our shortcomings and are determined to correct them,” he said on Friday in a three-hour speech at the opening of the Congress.
Nearly thirty years after the advent of democracy, the country is plagued by very high unemployment and crime rates, poverty and inequality remain deep and power cuts are breaking records as the crisis worsens. energy.
Some 4,500 ANC representatives from the nine provinces of South Africa, gathered in a conference center on the outskirts of Johannesburg, are to take the decisive vote for the 2024 election.
The five-day conference started late on Friday. “The vote will take place today (Saturday), barring a setback,” party spokesman Amos Phago told AFP in the morning.
Dozens of delegates, mainly supporters of former President Jacob Zuma (2009-2018), chanted slogans demanding change during his speech, banging on their tables. “Let us show discipline, political conscience,” Mr. Ramaphosa urged them.
On Friday, cameras captured Mr. Ramaphosa laughing and exchanging handshakes with Mr. Zuma.
The only rival of Mr. Ramaphosa for the moment is his former Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, 66, placed far behind.
“He will win”
Mr. Ramaphosa is attacking this deadline, crucial for his political future, just after having escaped an impeachment procedure.
The head of state, also a wealthy businessman, is accused of having tried to conceal the theft in 2020 of wads of dollars, hidden under the cushions of a sofa, in his luxurious domain of Phala Phala (North-East ). An investigation is underway, the president is not charged at this stage.
The threat of a forced departure was thwarted by the majority ANC in Parliament, which called on its deputies to “toe the line” and reject the procedure. Losing ground at the polls for ten years and without a credible alternative, the party has strengthened Cyril Ramaphosa’s chances of retaining power.
Despite the scandal, a gloomy social and economic climate, the latter remains popular. And for the party which fell below 50% for the first time in local elections last year, it represents the best asset for the general elections of 2024.
Even Mr Ramaphosa’s most furious critics, standing on conference center tables booing him, acknowledge: ‘He’s going to win, we know that’, says Thami Chamane, 30, delegate from KwaZulu-Natal province .
“But because of the Phala Phala scandal, he must withdraw” from himself, he said, adding that he will give, even only symbolically, his vote to the president’s competitor.
The ANC has lost ground at the polls since the Zuma era and last year fell below 50% for the first time in local elections. It nevertheless remains the main political party in South Africa.