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Ramaphosa Faces Tough Task to Revive South African Economy

  • A myriad of economic ills face the governing party’s leader
  • Ramaphosa will need to tackle energy, unemployment crises
Cyril Ramaphosa, and Paul Mashatile, South Africa's deputy president, during the 55th national conference of the African National Congress party in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Dec. 19.

Cyril Ramaphosa, and Paul Mashatile, South Africa's deputy president, during the 55th national conference of the African National Congress party in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Dec. 19.

Photographer: Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg

Cyril Ramaphosa fended off an impeachment inquiry and internal dissent in South Africa’s governing African National Congress to win re-election as its leader. Rebuilding support for the party ahead of a national vote scheduled for 2024 and tackling the nation’s multitude of socio-economic ills is likely to be even more arduous.

The ANC is “increasingly becoming unpopular” and Ramaphosa’s most difficult tasks will be to re-inspire confidence in himself and the party, and to win support for measures needed to turn the country around, said Thabi Leoka, a Johannesburg-based economist.