Plea to give new president time to rebuild economy

South Africans should give new president Cyril Ramaphosa time and cooperation to rebuild the fragile economy.

This is the plea from James Motlatsi who worked closely with Ramaphosa at the National Union of Mineworkers.

Motlatsi yesterday said that, unlike former president Jacob Zuma, Ramaphosa would always put the country first. Zuma was previously criticised for saying the ANC comes first.

"Cyril always says what comes first is the country, the people and the development of South Africa," Motlatsi said.

Ramaphosa is seen by the majority of South Africans as a man who could turn the ANC and the country's fortunes around. However, the EFF and the DA said he has been part of the rot that has been happening in the country. They have accused Ramaphosa and other ANC leaders of protecting Zuma.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said: "Let's never forget that every sign of Zuma's future corruption was there for all to see before he was elected. Now the country looks to Cyril Ramaphosa to save us from a man that he and the ANC protected and supported. We must never allow this to happen again."

Born in Soweto 65 years ago, Ramaphosa studied law at the then University of the North (Turfloop), now called University of Limpopo, where he become actively involved in student politics. After completion of his studies, Ramaphosa joined the council of unions of South Africa as a legal adviser.

He served under Nelson Mandela as the ANC secretary-general between 1991 and 1997 and played an important role during South Africa's transition to democracy.

Ramaphosa led the ANC team in drawing up a new constitution for the country, which is considered one of the best in the world.

Ramaphosa left politics to join business after he lost out to former president Thabo Mbeki for the position of deputy president under Mandela.

He also snubbed Mandela's inauguration on May 10 1994 because he was allegedly unhappy at being overlooked.

This prompted his detractors to call him a coward.

He made a major political comeback when he was elected ANC deputy president at the governing party's national elective conference in Mangaung in 2012. The move paved the way for him to succeed Zuma.