South Africa's African National Congress' National Executive Council, led by Cyril Ramaphosa, appears to have taken meaningful steps against corruption while at the same time strengthening the president's position within the party.   

In a nationwide broadcast on July 12, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he was reimposing the ban on alcohol and a curfew. Both measures were imposed earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic and were designed to ease the strain on hospitals.

At the African National Congress party convention in South Africa on December 18, Cyril Ramaphosa became deputy party leader with 3,018 votes. Jacob Zuma, the party leader (and current president of S…

Cyril Ramaphosa’s victory in the African National Congress (ANC) leadership race is good for democratic institutions, the rule of law, and the South African economy, at least in the short term. He is likely to become the state president following the 2019 elections, and he may force the corrupt and discredited Jacob Zuma to relinquish the presidency before then.

Cyril Ramaphosa established an anti-virus regime: social distancing and a lockdown. And the virus "curve" indeed appeared to flatten. He gets good international press, but must deal with a restive and poor population.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) endorsed Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa for the presidency of the African National Congress (ANC) on September 26. The election of party president will take …

On March 27, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister Zweli Mkhize imposed on South Africa one of the strictest lockdowns outside of China to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Among the prohibited activities: dog-walking, jogging, the sale of alcohol, and leaving a place of residence (except for emergencies). At the time restrictions were put in place, South Africa had around 1,000 cases and had just recorded its first deaths. 

Ramaphosa announced that he will not be going to New York this year for UNGA. South Africa’s delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor. Ramaphosa says that, instead of attending UNGA, he will focus on a number of crises currently facing the country. He will work on implementing measures against gender-based violence and public violence, which almost certainly refers to the xenophobic attacks on foreigners.

This year there have been almost no cases of seasonal influenza in South Africa. South African experts attribute the steps taken against coronavirus as stopping flu in its tracks. The news is promising for the United States and Europe.