Ramaphosa is a dead man walking

“Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it.”

Those are the words of one of William Shakespeare’s Scottish noblemen upon the death of the rebel Thane of Cawdor, whose title is given to Macbeth, spurring his ambition to become king. 

The eponymous play is 400 years old next year. It has remained a Politics 101 primer through the ages, with its depiction of unbridled ambition, dastardly deeds to achieve the highest office, and how optimistic expectations are often dashed.

Depending on how you read it, the Bard may be saying that the Thane, having confessed his treason, exited with dignity. Alternatively, that his rule was futile, with the ending its high point. The words as easily describes Macbeth’s reign which followed a similar dismal and despised trajectory.

And so, too, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s imminent exit from political life. For Ramaphosa is already a dead man walking, whether he resigns this week, is ousted by his party in a fortnight, impeached by Parliament next year, or doggedly hangs on until the 2024 general election. 

The last scenario is the least likely.

The odds are that he will be the third ANC president in a row not to finish his term of office. How different it could have been.

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After the trauma of the Zuma years, Ramaphosa was embraced by much of the public and most commentators for his most obvious quality: that of being an obviously decent human being.

After a decade of state looting and brazenly corrupt governance, many were willing to take him at his word. He would root out corruption, punish the criminal comrades and attend to the dysfunction that existed in every sphere of state control. He did nothing of sort.

Even among his staunchest supporters, virtually the only argument proffered in defence of Ramaphosa is that his replacement is likely to be far, far worse. They’re almost guaranteed to be right in this.

At worst, the so-called radical economic transformation forces – a scurvy collection of thieves and scumbags, driven not by social justice as the name might suggest, but the desire for one final turn at stripping the pantry – will take power.

ALSO READ: Ramaphosa’s demise likely to scupper state capture crackdown

At best, there will be some pallid clone of Ramaphosa, mouthing the same bland assurances but tolerant of corruption.

The argument from Ramaphosa’s supporters has been that he is about to be brought down for what seems to be an inconsequential technicality: not reporting the theft three years ago of about R8 million of his own money from the sale of his own buffalo on his own Phala Phala game farm.

That is especially so, since the RET faction has looted a vastly greater amount of R1.5 trillion – taxpayers’ money – with apparent impunity.

However, the report of the Section 89 independent panel, appointed by parliament, puts a different complexion on the matter that is deeply unflattering of Ramaphosa.

Ultimately, the panel concluded that not only is there is prima facie evidence of “serious violations” of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and the constitution, but suggests, in effect, that the president is lying.

The finding essentially amounts to a recommendation that Ramaphosa face a hearing in parliament that could lead to his removal if two-thirds of MPs vote against him.

ALSO READ: Knives are out for Ramaphosa in ‘ANC madhouse’, but stepping aside ‘problematic’

In light of the panel’s shredding of Ramaphosa explanation of what happened at Phala Phala, it is difficult to imagine him submitting himself to the humiliation of the same process taking place in parliament. There also lies ahead the hurdle of possible criminal charges.

The sad truth of the Ramaphosa years is that he brashly promised to bring to justice the looters and plunderers of the previous administration. Instead, he only ensnared himself.

One question remains. What is the real story behind the Phala Phala money? Columnist Jonny Steinberg flighted as credible an explanation as any. He suggests that the money was part of Ramaphosa’s war chest to contest the ANC’s December leadership election.

If that’s true, Ramaphosa made a misjudgment of epic, Macbeth-like, proportions.