Ramaphosa: The man who would be king

by Ray Hartley

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is credited with driving through the deal between the apartheid government and the African National Congress that was at the heart of South Africa’s democratic constitution. He was the ANC’s lead negotiator and the man who persuaded one of the most recalcitrant racist governments in the world to buy into a settlement based on one of its most enlightened bills of rights. But once the ink had dried on the constitution, Ramaphosa found himself politically sidelined. Before the negotiations he had been the head of the country’s largest mineworkers union. Afterwards, he went into business after concluding a landmark black empowerment deal. A talented negotiator capable of driving a hard bargain between implacable enemies, Ramaphosa has always been ‘the man in the middle’.

Now, as Jacob Zuma’s presidency enters its final stretch, Ramaphosa has re-entered politics and is one of a handful of candidates to take over as ANC president and as president of South Africa. Should he succeed, he will take over a country that has been battered by years of corruption and misrule which flourished under Zuma. The question that everyone is asking is: can the man in the middle lead from the front? Ray Hartley, author and seasoned journalist, attempts to answer that question by looking at how Ramaphosa has handled the key challenges he has faced in the unions, in business and in politics.

234 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2017

About the author

Ray Hartley attended Queens College and Rhodes University, graduating with a BA Honours degree. He worked as an administrator at the constitutional negotiations, which ended apartheid. He has covered the unfolding drama of the new South Africa as a political correspondent who travelled extensively with Mandela and Mbeki and edited the Sunday Times, The Times and BusinessLive in South Africa.
Ray is the author Ragged Glory - The Rainbow Nation in Black and White, The Big Fix - How South Africa Stole the 2010 World Cup and Ramaphosa: The Man Who Would be King.
He is presently Research Director at The Brenthurst Foundation.

Reviews

[The Contented · Rating 3 out of 5]

First up, there was no new information in this book, no big bestseller revelations. (It's not 'The Presidents Keepers' even though it was published at a very opportune time - right before Cyril Ramaphosa contested the ANC presidency). I had also read the Anthony Butler biography of Ramaphosa years ago when it was first published - around 2010?. I had also read most of the books that were referenced here (Republic of Gupta etc) and had lived through the events from Nenegate to the Midnight Cabinet reshuffle - so there really wasn't much (in terms of the actual material) that was very new.

Still, at an important point in time, this book draws a lot of material together in a concise format. It is also hugely readable - perhaps its most important point. Compared to just about any of the South African chroniclers of current events, Ray Hartley's books stand out because they are well written.

(My son to me: 'Oh you're reading another book by a Ray Hartley)

I had recently read the Carien du Plessis bio of NDZ - that one seemed like much more of a rushed job than this book, with no real depth of information.

On the issue of Marikana, I think this book set out the argument, but much more could have been made of this: the key issue was poor policing, and ultimate responsibility lies with those who created the conditions for poor policing (also a theme of the Jacques Pauw book) - not CR. more should have been written on why political opponents choose to paint it differently.

In all this is a readable book, and especially valuable on what needs to be done to fix security - a very key, very necessary reform.

[Harald Winkler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read! A most readable account of the last few decades of SA history, woven around the story of Cyril Ramaphosa. Not a biography (acknowledges the one written by Anthony Butler), but a leading journalist's account. As the author says, no "revelation of any great secrets or dark motivations that suddenly explain the behaviour of its subject." So expect to be reminded of a few events that may have slipped your memory. No deep analysis in academic terms, but careful and compellingly written reporting. The book's focus is the "cut and thrust of politics" - and that is well presented. It's greatest strength is the journalistic style. Highly recommend it.

[Katya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this has made me feel a lot more positive about the outcome of my country in the near future.

[Frank Stollberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read in seriously interesting times for SA.