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South Africa: Hard Times
 
PIIS032150750023559-6-1
DOI10.31857/S032150750023559-6
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Vladimir G. Shubin 
Occupation: Principal Research Fellow, Centre for History and Cultural Anthropology, Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences; Research Fellow, Centre for Military Studies, Stellenbosch University (South Africa); member, Editorial Board, “Asia and A
Affiliation:
Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow
Journal nameAsia and Africa Today
EditionIssue 12
Pages31-38
Abstract

The article examines the development of events in South Africa in the period after President Cyril Ramaphosa came to power in February 2018. It shows that in the first years of his rule the president who put forward the slogan “New Dawn” was popular, which was reflected in the results of the parliamentary elections in 2019. However, gradually the situation in the country deteriorated.

Several waves of the Covid-19 pandemic have become a heavy blow to the economy of South Africa. Initially, the decisive steps taken by the President were welcomed, despite their rigidity. However, the continuing worsening of the economic situation, delays in mass vaccination, and especially the disclosure of corruption related to the purchase of personal protective equipment, have changed the people’s mood. The next ordeal for South Africa was the riots in July 2021, the trigger for which was the arrest of ex-President Jacob Zuma whom the Constitutional Court of South Africa sentenced to 15 months in prison for “contempt of court”. At least 350 people died during them, and the total losses of the country’s economy are estimated at 50 bln rands.

For a long time, it was believed that Ramaphosa would have no competitors in the elections for the post of president of the ruling party at its upcoming conference from December 16 to 20, 2022, but as his popularity fell, they began to manifest one after another: Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who lost to Ramaphosa the election with a small margin of votes in 2017 and Lindiwe Sisulu, both ministers, as well as Zweli Mkize, nominated by the ANC provincial organisation in KwaZulu-Natal. Moreover, Ramaphosa’s chances of being re-elected as ANC president decreased sharply when an investigation began into the theft of a large amount of dollars that was illegally stored on his farm.

KeywordsSouth Africa, African National Congress, Cyril Ramaphosa, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Lindiwe Sisulu, “Farmgate”
Received25.09.2022
Publication date15.12.2022
Number of characters27319
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