South Africa's 'co-pilot' Ramaphosa ready to take over from Zuma

South Africa’s deputy-president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has all but confirmed his intention to run for the presidency of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) come December this year.

The 64-year-old businessman who was speaking at an event in Johannesburg chose to use the analogy of a co-pilot taking over from the captain to steer the ship (South Africa) to a safe destination, the News24 portal reports.

The news portal said in response to a question about who the captain of South Africa’s flight was, he said planes were steered by a captain and a co-pilot, adding that it was the ‘‘co-pilot’s plane now,’‘ a reference to his desire to succeed his boss and current president, Jacob Zuma.

Whiles speaking at the Gordon Institute for Science and Technology, Ramaphosa stressed that given the current crisis the country was suffering there was the need for radical economic transformation, adding that business did not need to fear the transformation being championed.

‘‘Radical economic transformation is therefore not a break with existing policy. It does not represent a new uncertain path,’‘ he is quoted to have said.

The former trade unionist is believed to have the backing of powerful trade unions that are traditionally allied to the ANC. The groups have stood with the party through the years of apartheid struggle.

His most viable contender for the ANC presidency is former African Union Commission chairperson and ex-wife of President Zuma, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. She also recently accepted the nomination to become the first female leader of the party.

She also has the backing of amongst others, her former husband, the women’s and youth wings of the party and the ANC’s military veterans group, but a local poll in the country has put Ramaphosa ahead of her.