Ramaphosa: Path to Power

by Ray Hartley

In Path to Power veteran journalist Ray Hartley reveals how Cyril Ramaphosa pulled off one of the greatest political comebacks of modern times, and what lies in store for the new president as he embarks on a hefty clean-up operation of a country in shambles.

Ray Hartley's bestselling 2017 biography, The Man Who Would Be King, offered a cogent analysis of how the former nearly-man of South African politics handled the key challenges he faced in the unions, in business and in politics. In this updated edition, Hartley questions whether the former 'man in the middle' can lead from the front, now that he has publicly denounced the besmirched Zuma and his corrupted ANC and established himself as a worthy recipient of the country's top job.

So begins a new era in South African politics. As he takes the helm in 2018, Ramaphosa faces his biggest challenge fixing a broken economy, weeding out Zuma's corrupt cronies in government and, finally, delivering on his promise of a better life for the poor majority.

This fully revised edition also includes a new introduction and an additional chapter that covers the most recent developments in Ramaphosa's career and in South African politics.

Genres: Politics, South Africa, Nonfiction, Biography

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 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

[Shona Reader]

Before I read this book I knew very little about Cyril, save for the odd article about a current hot topic. So any literature on him was going to be valuable given my prior knowledge. I also found the introduction very informative as it gave a good background regarding SA politics which served as a foundation onto which the rest of the book developed on.

This isn't a biography in the classic sense, and the author was upfront about it in the beginning. I don't recommend this book to a reader who has been consuming literary works in SA politics over the past years. It's basically a summary of the events shaping up the SA political landscape and how Cyril fits into the jigsaw. But for a person like me the book was invaluable and I will read the more in-depth books to build on what I got in "Ramaphosa" ie on State Capture, Marikana, Apartheid, Mbeki, Mandela, etc.

I gave it four stars because I've become more enlightened after reading it. As a Zimbabwean, SA politics matters a lot to me.

[The Contented]

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.

[Tafadzwa Kwaramba]

This book is a hagiographic text that attempts to clean the image of President Cyril Ramaphosa. It goes to long lengths to give pedantic explanations to justify what Cyril Ramaphosa meant by the requirement of “concomitant action” during the Marikana strikes prior to the fatal shootings of mine workers. The book also goes to great lengths to explain the business rationale of Ramaphosa’s million rand bid to buy a buffalo in the context of the chasm of inequality continuously growing in the country. The author creates an impression that Ramaphosa was always the chosen one by fate from his days in COSATU and that Nelson Mandela preferred him to the ANC vice-presidency rather than Thabo Mbeki. The book is a light read and despite the hagiographic set-up and lack of balance, the book is worth reading as it attempts to give an all-encompassing view of the man from his persona, business and political life. I give the book 3/5 as it seems to have been written in a hurry to catch the Ramaphoria wave.

[Njabulo Mbuyazi]

Very insightful, especially about Cyril Ramaphosa's life as a Unionist and later as a businessman. It also clearly maps out his rise to the office of President and the challenges he has had to face. What the book also clearly explains in great detail is state capture and the extent of corruption that plagued South Africa under President Zuma's administration and how racial rhetoric can drum up support and divide a nation (Bell Pottinger and the work they did for the Gupta's). Overall its a well written book. Very informative and touches on a whole host of points regarding Mr. Ramaphosa. Definitely worth the read.

[Raymond Strodl]

Man who would be king

Well written and researched book which provides an insight into the man now leading the country. It poses the question if he can do enough to stop the slide in the fortunes of the ANC and retain power in 2019.

I enjoyed the insights into recent events and the problems he faces in this endeavor.

[Terry]

I loved this book. Before I read it, I didn’t really know much about Cyril Ramaphosa. I think Hartley did a good job of presenting the highs and lows of Ramaphosa’s political and business careers, as well as in a sense allowing the reader to connect with the psyche of the people of South Africa. Good book

[Waldimar Pelser]

A very good Ramaphosa primer. Hartley reminds us that Ramaphosa can only succeed in staying our slide if he betrays those on the left who made his ascent to power possible, an ascent that was concluded after publication.

[Jean]

Some interesting insights into the ANC, Cyril and SA politics.

[Harald Winkler]

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]

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

[Frank Stollberg]

Interesting read in seriously interesting times for SA.

[Nathan]

Easy read and gives a good overview of the political scene.

[Bruce Harbour]

Easy read into the background of Cyril Ramaphosa and how he ended up (when the book ends) competing for the ANC Presidency. Nothing really new or deep in the book and with the hindsight we now have, the book was trying to build up to a peak, but failed in that we all know the outcome