Once Militant, Now Millionaire. Next Up: South Africa President?
- Unions back South Africa deputy president to succeed Zuma
- Next president faces sagging economy, 25% unemployment
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Cyril Ramaphosa is the only serving politician in South Africa who’s led both a labor union and a business empire. Now chances are rising that he’ll lead the country.
The country’s biggest labor group last month cautiously backed Ramaphosa to head the ruling African National Congress in two years -- a post that would make him a shoo-in to succeed President Jacob Zuma in 2019. That would crown a comeback from political obscurity after Thabo Mbeki outmaneuvered him to become deputy president in 1994 and for the top job when Nelson Mandela stepped down in 1999. He was only named deputy president last year.