Ramaphosa needs to sleep with one eye open

Despite the frantic lobbying and backstabbing by his political enemies and his supposed allies, President Cyril Ramaphosa won the Nasrec race. But it doesn’t look like he will get to enjoy the winner’s podium … at least if he doesn’t clear the air around Phala Phala.

Even though he beat off his presidential challenger, Zweli Mkhize, by a comfortable margin, Ramaphosa needs to sleep with one eye open, metaphorically speaking, because of the potentially traitorous nature of the people surrounding him.

First and foremost, his newly elected deputy, Paul Mashatile, can be trusted as far as you could throw a renewal project.

ALSO READ: Mashatile could be sworn in as deputy president as Cabinet reshuffle expected

He was a one-time member of the inner circle of Jacob Zuma and then flip-flopped to Ramaphosa, helping him win at the 2017 conference. So, he could seize on any sign of weakness on the part of the president.

Likewise, the ANC’s new national executive committee (NEC) – which is the only body in the party which has the power to recall a sitting president – is packed with people with pliable loyalties.

It is not beyond possible that they would also mass at the first scent of blood in the water when it comes to Ramaphosa.

The president negotiated the threatened parliamentary storm over Phala Phala, after the previous NEC came to his rescue and ordered the ANC National Assembly caucus to vote against the acceptance of the Section 89 report into the farm burglary affair.

However, the criminal investigation is still hanging in the air. The longer that probe remains unresolved – and it is dragging on for an inordinately long time – the more Ramaphosa’s reputation – what is left of it anyway – will continue to take a pounding.

ALSO READ: ANC55: Bathabile Dlamini, Andile Lungisa elected as NEC achieves gender parity

Mr President, why do you not come clean with us? Don’t give your enemies any more ammunition, or you won’t see the end of your second term.